Preliminary Inquiry for Calgary Murder Case Paused for Translation
A crucial legal proceeding in a Calgary murder case has been temporarily halted to allow for the translation of evidence. The preliminary inquiry for Mohamad Anass Mahamou Al-Sahli, who is charged with the first-degree murder of his estranged wife, Anna Brazkho, will not conclude as scheduled. The delay was granted so that transcribed testimony from the hearing can be translated into Arabic for the accused.
Defence Requests Translation for Client Review
Defence lawyer Alain Hepner informed Justice Susan Pepper in Calgary Court of Justice that while the evidence during the hearing was simultaneously translated for Al-Sahli, he wanted his client to be able to review the written transcripts. Hepner stated this step was taken "out of an abundance of caution" to ensure Al-Sahli can thoroughly examine the evidence with a court translator.
The process was supposed to be completed over the weekend of November 22-23, 2025, but the transcripts were not finalized until Monday, November 24. This unexpected delay has pushed back the timeline for determining if the case will proceed to trial.
Case Background and Previous Legal History
The charges stem from the death of Anna Brazkho on March 3, 2025. Police were called to a home on the 100 block of Belmont Drive S.W. to investigate a suspicious death, which was later ruled a homicide.
Court records reveal a troubling history leading up to the alleged murder. Al-Sahli was under an 18-month peace bond issued in September 2024, related to an allegation of domestic assault. The conditions of this bond explicitly forbade him from having any contact with Brazkho. At the time he agreed to the peace bond, Al-Sahli was facing five charges from an incident on July 25, 2024, four of which listed Brazkho as the victim.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
During the preliminary inquiry, Crown prosecutors Janice Walsh and Erin Norman had called 10 of their proposed 13 witnesses when Hepner indicated he would not require further evidence to be presented. Justice Pepper has imposed a publication ban on the evidence presented by the Crown, as is common in such proceedings.
Once Al-Sahli has had the opportunity to review the translated testimony from the first day of the hearing on November 17, his lawyer will be in a position to decide whether to consent to or oppose his client being committed to stand trial for first-degree murder. The legal community and those following this domestic violence case now await the resumption of the preliminary inquiry.
