Second-degree murder charge against Mohamed Issak in Nova Scotia

A second-degree murder charge against Mohamed Issak will continue in Nova Scotia courts. Issak, 32, was charged in December after an incident at the East Coast Forensic Hospital last May. Issak and the victim, Allen Nickerson, were both patients at the hospital. Nickerson had a history of violence, having been found not criminally responsible for killing his mother in 1994. Issak had also been declared not criminally responsible for his previous acts of violence in 2016. Initially, Issak faced a charge of aggravated assault for the incident involving Nickerson. However, when Nickerson later died from his injuries, the charge changed to second-degree murder. The Crown has decided to proceed with an indictment, which means there will be no preliminary inquiry. This week, the case appeared in two courtrooms. In Nova Scotia Supreme Court, it was agreed that lawyers will meet with a judge in May. The case is set to return to open court on May 22. Issak is also charged with assaulting a peace officer. This charge will be addressed in Dartmouth provincial court on April 17. He remains in custody until further proceedings.