UPDATE December 23, 2013: IHIT investigators say a second-degree murder charge has been laid against the 16-year-old boy accused of beating 19-year-old Karim Meskine on December 17.
Meskine died in hospital. IHIT says an application has also been made for an adult sentence.
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Everybody describes Karim Meskine as a quiet, humble teen who wouldn’t hurt a fly. He was not flashy, he didn’t even own a phone, and was always very respectful of everyone else.
Karim was only 18 years old when he was beaten so severely that before he passed away the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team had already been called in to investigate. Karim died Thursday night, one day after his 19th birthday.
When Karim was beaten he was going for a job interview to help support his family. His dad has been looking for a job for some time and the family does not have much money. One of his younger brothers is also disabled and needs some expensive medical care.
Karim was doing what he could to help.
His friends and the African community are in shock at what happened.
“Very quiet and humble kid, very respectful,” says his soccer coach Bobson Sesay. “He’s not the kind of kid that would start a fight. If he’s here you don’t even notice that he’s here. He’s very quiet, humble, peaceful.”
Family friend Tunde Alatise says he couldn’t believe the extent of Karim’s injuries. “In one way I’m glad he was in a coma because I don’t think any human being can bear the pain of what I saw,” he says.
“It was beyond something I can describe.”
“I know this boy, he’s not my son and I was feeling an enormous amount of pain. I couldn’t empathize with what his parents were going through at that moment.”
Margaret Bertrand has been a friend of Karim’s since she was six-years-old. “I’ve known him ever since I can remember,” she says.
She found out Karim had passed away after people started writing messages on his wall expressing their shock and sadness.
“I never imagined something like this would ever happen to anybody, especially not him,” says Bertrand.
“He’s not just my friend, he’s my family,” she says. “If you didn’t know him he was quiet, if you did know him he was quiet but he would open up to you and he’s a really funny guy, always there to make you laugh.”
She says Karim would never hurt anyone and would go out of his way if anyone needed help.
Their grad class is planning a memorial dinner Monday night to remember Karim.
A trust fund has been set up for Karim. The trust fund has been set up with TD Canada Trust and donors can use the branch number 9028 along with account number 6083916
“The big question is why? Why?” says Justus Mirembe, the African Canadian Soccer and Cultural Association.
“Obviously there are two families here that are going to lose their kids. The attacker as well, what’s going to happen to him?”
A 16-year-old has been charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, but the Integrated Homicide Team says they will be recommending murder charges.
“The most important part, besides the financial support, is the awareness,” says Mirembe. “We want to try to make sure this does not ever happen again. We want our kids to be raised in a safe environment. We want our kids to be raised to be men and women who can support this country.”
He says there is no doubt Karim would have been very successful in his life.
“I had no doubt that he would have been a very successful young man so it’s a great loss.”
If anyone would like to help and cannot make it to a TD Canada Trust branch, they can call Tunde Alatise at 778-829-4477.
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