The trial date for the man accused of killing a 13-year-old Burnaby girl more than five years ago has been postponed once again.
Ibrahim Ali is charged with first-degree murder in the 2017 slaying of Marrisa Shen, whose body was found in Central Park in July that year.
The BC Prosecution Service confirmed Friday he will not appear before a jury on Jan. 16, as scheduled, as pre-trial applications are ongoing.
“A new date for jury selection and trial has not yet been determined,” wrote communications counsel Dan McLaughlin by email.
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Kyla Lee, a Vancouver criminal lawyer with no connection to the Ali case, said a judge determines whether postponements or adjournments are appropriate.
“One of the things that goes into determining whether four years is too long is looking the various reasons why there have been delays or adjournments, whether they’ve been because of legitimate actions taken by either the Crown or defence,” she explained.
“Particularly in a case like this with a high-profile incident that has had a big impact in the community, it’s important those cases be resolved in a timely fashion.”
A defendant can waive his or her right to be tried in a reasonable timeframe, Lee added. The reasonable timeframe measure is in place to protect both the rights of the accused and all those impacted, she said.
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