deadmonton 2003 - raed sanjad
Raed Sanjad, 24, was shot to death February 26th, 2003.
Arafat Aboul Fattah, 33 was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder using a firearm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and intent to use a firearm to cause bodily harm.
It started as a dispute between a customer and a car lot owner over over broken glass. It ended with the murder of Raed Sanjad (left) and the attempted murder of his cousin, Tyler Sanjad, then 20.
Raed Sanjad was shot nine times. Tyler Sanjad was shot three times in the liver and arm. Rabih (Robbie) Farraj, then 20, was hiding in a washroom and was nicked by a bullet. The shootings occured at The Lot Inc., a used car business located at 7104 76 Avenue.
Police set up surveillance on a suspect, eventually trapping him in an equipment rental store in a strip mall near 34 Avenue and 99 Street.
Arafat Aboul Fattah, then 23, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder using a firearm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and intent to use a firearm to cause bodily harm. The murder weapon, a 9-mm handgun, was never recovered.
At Fattah's first trial in February, 2005 court heard that he had gotten into an argument with a salesman at The Lot, smashing a glass sheet covering a desk. The car lot's owner, Raed's uncle, Adam Sanjad, ran into Fattah days later and confronted him about the broken glass.
Fattah struck him in the face, breaking his nose. Raed learned of the attack on his uncle and he and Tyler and two other men smashed out the windows of Fattah's Jaguar with baseball bats.
On February 26th, 2003, following a chase earlier that afternoon between two minivans driven by Fattah and Raed, a man arriving in a gold, four-door car walked into the car lot's office and opened fire.
Tyler Sanjad identified Arafat Fattah as the shooter in court despite earlier evidence given to police that he didn't know the man who killed his cousin.
Fattah's defence lawyer presented forensic testimony that DNA on bullet casings found at the scene did not match Fattah.
Also entered into court record was evidence that a cellphone call made by Fattah placed him in Edmonton's northeast (near a cell tower at 19 Street and 147 Avenue) 16 minutes before the 5:30 p.m. shooting, suggesting it was nearly impossible for Fattah to switch cars and travel halfway across the city at rush hour. One of the two minivans involved in the chase was found near The Lot.
Fattah's first trial ended in a mistrial. A hung jury was unable to reach a verdict on its third day of deliberations. The jurors had several questions for the judge regarding proof beyond a reasonable doubt before passing a note indicating they were hopelessly deadlocked.
In January, 2005 a statement of claim was filed in Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton that saw the estate of Raed Sanjad suing Fattah for $2.64 million in damages for wrongful death. Danny Sanjad, former business partner of Raed Sanjad, is claiming $1 million for lost investment and income.
A lawyer representing the Sanjads said the suit was being filed to preserve their right to sue before the statute of limitations expires.
Fattah's second trial began January 24th, 2006 with the Crown stating the accused wanted to end "once and for all" a feud that had been simmering for weeks. On February 15th the jury began deliberations and returned a verdict in just over 24 hours.
Arafat Fattah was found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted-murder. Fattah's lawyer is contemplating an appeal. Fattah was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 21 years. Fattah received another life sentence for the attempted murder of Tyler Sanjad to be served concurrently.
At the March 2nd, 2006 sentencing hearing, spectators and supporters representing both sides of the dispute were searched for weapons before being allowed in the courtroom.
"The murder of Raed Sanjad was the execution of an unarmed man by a firing squad of one," said Court of Queen's Bench Justice Eric Macklin, calling Fattah an "extremely dangerous man" with a lengthy criminal record despite his youth.
Fattah -- a violent drug dealer also known as "Joe Smiley" -- was the subject of a scathing 1999 psychiatric report portraying him as a "vicious" menace. The convicted killer, who was adopted when found on a doorstep in Lebanon, is under a deportation order that will now await him until at least 2027.