A St. John’s man accused of kidnapping and murdering a woman in March has entered not guilty pleas, with a trial scheduled for next spring at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ibrahim Alahmad, 36, appeared before Chief Justice Raymond Whalen on Monday morning, wearing a white t-shirt featuring a caricature of a human skeleton carrying a rose on the front. His hands were free, but he was wearing leg restraints.

It was his Alahmad’s first in-person appearance since he was arrested on March 5 and charged with the kidnapping and murder of a woman. In previous appearances at provincial court, Alahmad appeared via videoconferencing from either a hospital room or Her Majesty’s Penitentiary.

The victim’s name cannot be released because of a sweeping publication ban that also includes a long list of witnesses, including the woman’s children.

Ibrahim Alahmad appeared in court in St. John’s on Monday wearing a white t-shirt. On the front of the shirt was a caricature of a human skeleton, carrying a rose. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

Crown prosecutor Kellie Cullihal and defence lawyer Jason Edwards were both agreeable to the publication ban.

Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, Alahmad calmly entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Jury selection will begin on May 5, 2025.

Ibrahim Alahmad, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering a St. John’s woman in March, appeared at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

Alahmad, who remains in custody, glanced briefly over his shoulder into the public gallery as he was led away from the courtroom by sheriff’s officers.

It’s the latest step in a case that shocked the province, especially the city’s growing Syrian community.

The woman’s body was discovered on March 5 at an abandoned house in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove. Alahmad was arrested later that day, and was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries.

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