“Logan Nayneecassum Murder: Afrah Abdi Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Saskatoon Shooting”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Jury Finds Afrah Abdi Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in Saskatoon Shooting Incident

A jury in Saskatoon has delivered a verdict of second-degree murder in the case of Afrah Abdi, who was charged in relation to the shooting death of Logan Nayneecassum on August 21, 2020. The incident took place at Aria Food and Spirits, a popular bar located in Saskatoon’s Rosewood neighbourhood. Nayneecassum tragically lost his life after being shot in the leg.

The trial of Afrah Abdi, held at the Court of King’s Bench before Justice Mona Dovell, commenced on December 4. Over the course of the trial, prosecutor Michael Pilon presented evidence from 11 witnesses to build the case against Abdi. However, defence lawyer Leo Adler chose not to call Abdi to the witness stand.

The entire incident was captured on the bar’s security cameras, and at the time, the shooter was known to both the bar staff and customers by the nickname ‘Tax.’ The central issue during the trial revolved around determining whether the individual seen in the video footage was indeed the same person seated across from the jurors in the courtroom.

Addressing the jury, Justice Dovell emphasized the importance of establishing the shooter’s identity as the key issue in the case.

The jury dedicated the initial two days of the trial to closely examining hours of video footage depicting a group of men and women socializing inside the bar. The footage commenced with the arrival of the man identified as “the shooter” shortly after midnight and continued until the moment of the shooting, just before 3 a.m. CST. The video alternated between color and black and white, and unfortunately, there was no audio available.

The footage revealed the individuals involved in the case engaging in various activities such as drinking, taking shots, going outside for cigarette breaks, exchanging fist-bumps, and sharing laughter.

Around an hour after the bar’s closing time, a group of five First Nations men entered the establishment, leading to a confrontation with the man known as ‘Tax.’ Tragically, it was during this altercation that Nayneecassum sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. Pathologist Shaun Ladham testified during the trial, explaining that the bullet had severed two major blood vessels.

Ladham made it clear that unless the gunshot wound had occurred on an operating table, it would have been lethal, comparing it to cutting a hose.

Following the shooting, police promptly issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of Afrah Abdi. However, it wasn’t until early 2021, when Abdi illegally crossed into the United States, that he was taken into custody.

The sequence of events leading to Abdi’s arrest began on January 23 at approximately 9 a.m. CST near West Kootenai, according to an affidavit filed by U.S. Border Patrol agent Seth Justesen.

Justesen stated that Border Patrol Dispatch received trail camera activations indicating the presence of three individuals dressed in camouflage and dark clothing, carrying black backpacks, crossing the border from Canada into the United States. Thirty minutes later, another agent observed a black Nissan Sentra leaving the area where the trio had crossed, with fogged windows but multiple occupants visible.

Upon attempting to pull over the vehicle by flashing their emergency lights, the driver immediately fled the scene. The car sped south from Eureka, near the Alberta border, towards Whitefish. Due to adverse road conditions and the excessive speed of the vehicle, officers decided to radio ahead with the car’s description but discontinued the pursuit.

Justesen’s affidavit explained that the Nissan Sentra continued at high speeds on Highway 93 towards Whitefish, Montana. The Flathead County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) and Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) were alerted about the ongoing pursuit. The FCSO and MHP managed to deploy a Vehicle Immobilization Device, ultimately forcing the Nissan Sentra to come to a stop approximately four miles (6.4 kilometers) from Whitefish, Montana, down a small embankment off the highway. The FCSO and MHP promptly arrested the four occupants of the vehicle, including Afrah Abdi.

Abdi was subsequently extradited back to Canada to face trial.

A conviction of second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for at least 10 years. The lawyers involved in the case will return to court on January 26 to present arguments regarding the parole eligibility period.

Leo Adler, Abdi’s defence lawyer, stated outside the courtroom that his client intends to appeal the conviction, without providing specific details about the grounds for the appeal.

The tragic shooting incident at Aria Food and Spirits has left the community of Saskatoon devastated, and the conviction of Afrah Abdi for second-degree murder brings some closure to this heartbreaking case..