By Canadian Press

Ibrahim Ali trial: Sex assault expert compares dead girl’s injuries to childbirth

Sep 21, 2023 | 1:27 PM

VANCOUVER — A sexual assault expert testifying at the trial of a man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl in a B.C. park says she suffered injuries more consistent with childbirth that would have made it difficult for her to walk.

CAUTION: Graphic content in next four paragraphs.

Dr. Tracy Pickett, who specializes in emergency and clinical forensic medicine, says the laceration to the girl’s vagina happened before her death and is “very uncommon.”

She told the British Columbia Supreme Court trial of Ibrahim Ali that the girl’s injury would have been very painful and required at least one stitch. 

Pickett testified Monday that she used crime scene photos and the autopsy report to form her opinions that the victim had vaginal and anal injuries that were consistent with blunt force trauma.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

Ali has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of the teen, whose body was found in Burnaby’s Central Park early on July 19, 2017, just hours after her mother reported her missing.

A forensic biologist testified last week that the DNA of the accused was found inside the body of the girl, who can’t be named because of a publication ban. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023.

The Canadian Press