A Yellowknife teen who beat an on-duty taxi driver to death in a SA国际影视传媒渂rutalSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渟enselessSA国际影视传媒� act of SA国际影视传媒渦ncontrolled rageSA国际影视传媒� received a four-year sentence Tuesday SA国际影视传媒� two years shorter than what prosecutors were calling for.

Elias Schiller, 19, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, 73, a longtime City Cab driver described by devastated friends and family as a pillar in YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Somalian community.

SA国际影视传媒�(Elias) lost control of himself and did something awful,SA国际影视传媒� Justice Andrew Mahar said Tuesday, addressing a crowded Yellowknife courtroom packed with both friends and former colleagues of Ali and members of the Schiller family.

Mahar settled on a sentencing recommendation submitted by EliasSA国际影视传媒� lawyer, Lance McClean.
Originally charged with second-degree murder, Elias was arrested on Nov. 19 2018 SA国际影视传媒� just hours after Ali was found deceased in the backseat of his still-running cab outside the former Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Around 3:20 a.m that morning, Ali picked Elias up from Fraser Arms Apartments before driving him to his Wilkinson Crescent home, which he shared with his father, 51-year-old James Schiller. In the driveway of the SchillersSA国际影视传媒� home, an argument ensued between Ali and Elias. Ali shoved the much larger Elias, angering the teen.

Ali then exited his cab and fled. Elias chased him, catching up with him in the cul-de-sac of Wilkinson Crescent.

There, he fatally assaulted Ali. Elias was intoxicated at the time.

He left Ali laying in the snow for 25 minutes before he and his father James SA国际影视传媒� who later pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to aggravated assault SA国际影视传媒� decided to take Ali to the hospital. Elias moved Ali by his head into the backseat of the taxi. James, alone, then drove the taxi the hospital, parking in the emergency room parking lot.

Both men mistakenly believed Ali was still alive at the time James drove him to the hospital, the court heard.

The longtime cab driver was in fact dead.

An autopsy later revealed Ali died as a result of neck compression and blunt head trauma.

Father tried to cover up sonSA国际影视传媒檚 violent assault

James left Ali in the backseat of the cab. He did not go inside the hospital to alert staff. Instead, James called hospital staff from a payphone. Using an accent to disguise his voice, he advised hospital staff there was a man bleeding in a taxi cab outside. The call caused confusion among staff, and AliSA国际影视传媒檚 body wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 discovered until some 25 minutes later. Staff, along with a City Cab driver sent by a dispatcher to check on Ali, located AliSA国际影视传媒檚 body in the backseat of his taxi.

Later that morning, James shovelled snow from his yard out onto the cul-de-sac in what prosecutors called a SA国际影视传媒渂otched attemptSA国际影视传媒� to cover up blood at the scene of the assault.

Investigating Mounties soon found two spots of blood and a toque laying in the snow. Elias was arrested around 10 a.m. The court heard Elias confessed and apologized before the interview had even begun, telling police he did not mean to kill Ali. He expressed remorse and said he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 rob Ali.

SA国际影视传媒淚n an act of uncontrolled rage, Elias chased (Ali) down and viciously beat him to death on the street,SA国际影视传媒� said prosecutor Jill Andrews. With no indication of a clear motive and no evidence that a robbery occurred, Andrews said there is SA国际影视传媒渘o explanation for this violent and senseless crime.

SA国际影视传媒淭his was a horrific crime that sent shock waves through our community."

Mahar, acknowledging the four-year sentence imposed Tuesday was SA国际影视传媒渦nusually low,SA国际影视传媒� noted Elias is an SA国际影视传媒渦nusually youngSA国际影视传媒� first-time offender. Elias was 18 when he beat Ali to death. Mahar considered EliasSA国际影视传媒� circumstances as an Indigenous offender, his youthfulness, early guilty plea and SA国际影视传媒渃lear indication of remorse,SA国际影视传媒� in rendering his sentencing decision, the court heard.

McClean said his client has struggled with substance abuse since he was 13. He dropped out of school in Grade 9 after facing bullying about his weight and Indigenous identity. Elias grew up with some alcoholism and verbal abuse at home.

Mahar noted that at the time of the beating death, Elias was depressed and dealing with anger issues.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 sorry from the bottom of my heart,SA国际影视传媒� Elias told AliSA国际影视传媒檚 friends and family in court Tuesday.

Mahar accepted a joint-recommendation from the Crown and James SchillerSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Tracy Bock, sentencing the 51-year-old to a six-month jail sentence. With pre-trial custody credit, that amounts to time served, meaning James has no time left to serve.

SA国际影视传媒�(James) was confronted with an almost impossible situation at 3:30 in the morning,SA国际影视传媒� said Mahar. While he broke the law and made poor choices, Mahar said James did so to protect his son and to get help for Ali.

SA国际影视传媒業 forgive youSA国际影视传媒�

Fourteen victim impact statements were submitted by AliSA国际影视传媒檚 friends and family.

The court heard that Ali, like many other cab drivers who now reside in the capital, came to Canada in search of a better life.

Ali, known as a kind, hardworking man with a SA国际影视传媒渃ontagiousSA国际影视传媒� laugh, provided financial support to over two dozen orphans in Somalia, the court heard.

Several cab drivers said they now drive in fear following the death of Ali, a veteran driver of 20-plus years who they often turned to for advice. They described not trusting passengers, even customers theySA国际影视传媒檝e known for years.

"This nightmare will never end," wrote one friend.

Numerous letters, citing Islamic principles, emphasized the need to try and forgive the Schillers.

SA国际影视传媒淚 forgive you,SA国际影视传媒� a friend of the late cab driver said Monday.

Mahar called the gestures an SA国际影视传媒渋mpressive and heartbreaking offer of reconciliation.SA国际影视传媒�

Elias Schiller has been in custody since his arrest in November 2018. With credit for time time in pre-trial custody, he has about two years and two months left to serve.