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'My Son Is Dead,' Says Grieving Dad
By Jason Van Rassel
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
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The citizenship card belonging to Mustafa Mohamed Mussa, who was killed during a fight outside a northeast bar early on New Year's Day.
Photograph by: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald |
Mustafa Mohamed Mussa's family will bury him today in the country where they sought a future free of violence and death.
Mussa, 24, was Calgary's first homicide victim of 2009, dying during a fight outside a northeast bar while celebrating New Year's and a friend's birthday.
Police have charged two brothers with second-degree murder in connection with the altercation at Coyote's Bar and Grill, and are still seeking a third suspect.
"My son is dead and there's nothing much I can do, but I'm hopeful the (courts),which have the power to do something about it, will restore justice to my family," Mussa's father, Mohamed Mussa Elmi, said through a friend who provided translation.
Mussa was born in Somalia, but his family fled their home in the northern city of Borame as civil war wracked the country in 1991. They settled in Ottawa, where Mussa grew up.
"He was someone who liked to play sports and liked school," said his brother, Ali.
Ali, a second-year student at the University of Ottawa, said his older brother wanted to continue school himself but needed to work to raise money for tuition.
"He had to come here (to Alberta) to work because school's expensive," he said.
Mussa's father said his son moved to Brooks in 2006 and had been working at Lakeside Packers and restaurant jobs.
Elmi was visiting his son in Brooks last week and said Mussa went to Calgary on New Year's Eve to be with friends.After spending some time at a friend's house, the group headed for Coyote's.
"There was a disagreement that occurred inside the pub. Later in the evening, it moved outside and became more deadly, unfortunately," said homicide Det. Patty McCallum. "We have a pretty good indication of the motive, but at this point, we're holding back that information."
During the altercation, Mussa, a staff member from the bar and a third man were injured.
None of the three men knew each other, said McCallum, adding Mussa may have been fatally wounded trying to break up a fight.
Although Elmi isn't entirely sure what transpired the night his son died, he said Mussa was typically level-headed.
"He was a very calm guy who never hurt anyone," he said.
Mussa will be buried today in a Muslim cemetery northwest of the city after traditional Muslim rites and prayers, Elmi said.
After leaving the strife of their homeland, having Mussa die at such a young age is "very painful," he said.
The pain is shared by leaders of the local Somali community, who said 11 Somalis have died violently in Alberta in recent months.
Mudhir Mohamed, president of the Somali Canadian Society of Calgary, said the community's grief over the deaths has been compounded by the fact the victims were hard-working immigrants who haven't been involved in criminal activity.
Many of the cases are unsolved, but Mohamed praised police and members of the public for their role in bringing about arrests in Mussa's case.
Northwind Hart, 32, of no fixed address, was charged with second-degree murder Friday.
His brother, Kendall Brian Hart, 22, has now also been charged
Source: Calgary Herald, Jan 06, 2009
Related : Accused's young brother charged - Calgary Sun