SUBSCRIBE & WIN! Sign up for the Daily CHAT News Today Newsletter for a chance to win a $75 South Country Co-op gift card!

Man who tried to kill Edmonton police officer sentenced to 18 years

Dec 13, 2019 | 2:57 PM

EDMONTON — A man convicted of striking an Edmonton police officer with a car before stabbing him multiple times outside a football game has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Abdulahi Hasan Sharif, who is 32, could also serve time for running down four pedestrians with a U-Haul van during a subsequent police chase in the city’s downtown in September 2017.

Sharif was convicted in October on 11 charges, including attempted murder, criminal flight causing bodily harm and dangerous driving.

Crown prosecutors had argued that Sharif deserves a maximum life sentence for the targeted attack on the officer, and 20 years to be served concurrently for fleeing from police and trying to kill the pedestrians.

Sharif, who’s a Somali refugee, was not represented by a lawyer at trial, did not testify or call any witnesses and did not make any sentencing submissions.

Justice Paul Belzil delivered the sentence on the attempted murder charge against the police officer and continues to deliver his ruling on the remaining charges.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 13, 2019.

The Canadian Press