Woman who survived stabbing attack that killed her mother testifies at father's murder trial
The daughter of a man accused of killing her mother and of trying to kill her in a stabbing attack in Ottawa's west end in June 2021 took the stand at his trial Thursday.
The daughter, whom CTV News is not naming, told court about several instances of alleged abuse she witnessed, including one time in 2013, when she saw her father "holding a knife" to her mother before he allegedly said, "I'm going to kill you."
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
The woman, now 26, told court that by the time she was nine her mother Hanadi Mohamed had been hit "more than once" and they had sought refuge at shelters, hotels and Airbnb's over the years "due to abuse."
Hamid Ayoub has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and attempted murder. He had earlier pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault, but the Crown rejected the plea.
Court heard that, for a time, no one other than Mohamed and her daughter knew where they were living—not even her brother.
"We thought it was best, just in case he would be followed," the daughter said.
"And who would be doing the following?" asked assistant Crown attorney Louise Tansey.
"The accused," the woman replied.
She said at one point, Ayoub sent a text with a screenshot of where they were living.
"He said it wasn't hard to figure out where we were staying," the daughter testified.
"What did you take from that?" Tansey asked.
"I didn't really respond because I was still in shock," she replied.
Mohamed and her children came to Canada from Sudan in 2007, after Ayoub.
Their daughter was asked about how acceptable divorce or separation is in a Muslim home.
"That is something that is difficult to see. It's not something they encourage so usually when a divorce or separation is wanted, family friends or supporters would just push the family to just stay together regardless … they will just conclude to just stay together and not break the family," she told court.
"Did you have that kind of pressure for your family to stay together?" Tansey asked.
"Yes," she answered.
The woman told court her parents' separation in 2020 was "different" than the times before because Mohamed was not being pressured to keep the family together.
The woman recalled a time in 2012 when she said her mom was screaming for her and her brother.
"She was scared, crying. Prior to that I heard hitting sounds and then she called our names we just knew it was one of those moments again," she said.
The woman told court that Ayoub was injured in a car accident in 2020 and that she and her brother helped him with household chores and schoolwork after her mother encouraged them to spend time with their dad despite them not being in a relationship.
The woman then told court about a "family meeting" at the Rideau Centre and how her mom was reluctant at first but ultimately agreed.
"She was very nervous but at the same time wasn't as worried because it was in a public place," the woman said.
The trial is scheduled to last until mid-October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
NDP house leader laments 'agents of chaos' in precarious Parliament
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.