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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Sat Mar 19 2011 - 19:00:16 EST
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/newcomers-unite-amid-knifing-death-118289239.html
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Newcomers unite amid knifing deathAfrican community gathers, mourns
By: *Gabrielle Giroday*
Posted: *03/19/2011 1:00 AM*
**
Abdul Rahim Mah Jemei was walking downtown when he was fatally stabbed.
Members of the city's African community have rallied around the family of a
slain 22-year-old man who was saving his next paycheque as a pizza
restaurant employee for his family.
Lambros Kyriakakos, president of the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg, said
the stabbing death Wednesday night of Abdul Rahim Mah Jemei has hit the
family hard. In fact, Kyriakakos, said Jemei's father had to be hospitalized
after he heard the news. "It's very hard, they're numb, they're confused, a
little bit in denial, the children," Kyriakakos said.
Friends had gathered at the family's West End home Friday and there were
prayers for Jemei at a local mosque.
"The actual mourning, it's being done at home. The whole Eritrean community
and African community are visiting," said Kyriakakos.
Jemei worked at a downtown pizza restaurant, Kyriakakos said, and was one of
seven children of a hard-working local couple, Sofia and Mahmud Jemei.
"(Jemei's) wishes for his next paycheque was to take his little brothers to
some entertainment, to take them to a movie, to buy them things," said
Kyriakakos.
"He was very conscious about how he should help his dad and mom in raising a
family of seven in a new environment."
Police announced Friday they'd arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with
Jemei's death just outside of Portage Place. Jemei was in the area with
another 19-year-old friend whom Kyriakakos described as a "close friend,"
when police said they were confronted and stabbed in their upper bodies.
The 19-year-old survived the attack, and was treated at hospital and
released.
Police did not say Friday what the motive for the stabbing, but said they
found a 16-year-old boy in the area soon after.
He's now been charged with second-degree murder. Officers still are
investigating the case, and said Friday a second suspect may be involved.
"It was a tragic loss. This is a young person who lost their life," said
Const. Natalie Aitken.
Police said they don't believe the teen they've arrested is connected to
gangs, but did say he had a "significant" history with police.
Kyriakakos said he's known Jemei's family since they moved to Canada about
six years ago, after the family lived in Sudan. Jemei was part of an African
pavilion at Folklorama, said Kyriakakos, and played soccer. He said people
who know Jemei believe the attack was random.
"The African community is doing a wonderful job by just making sure that
they're not alone (during) this difficult time. Their home is full day and
night. Sofia is just sitting, grieving, not doing anything else, and
everybody is taking care of the kids, the house, of the finances, of the
burial, and that gives an ease to them to sit down and reflect and go
through the grieving process."
Kyriakakos said the homicide highlights the vulnerability of youth who are
newcomers to Canada.
*gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca* <gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca>
**
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 19, 2011 B3
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