A jury in Calgary has found Emanuel Kahsai guilty of first-degree murder in the 2015 stabbing deaths of his 54-year-old mother, Selmawit Alem, and Julie Tran, the 25-year-old woman Alem was a caregiver to.
Kahsai was in a different courtroom than the jury in order to hear the verdict. He was removed from the original courtroom because after Justice Glen Poelman told him the jury had reached a verdict, Kahsai was asked if he would respectfully receive the decision. He told the judge to call the FBI and the U.S. Army.
Alem’s best friend Susan Hills broke down upon hearing the verdict.
“We won, the police won, the Crown won, Sel won, Julie won,” Hills said afterwards. “Thank God. Nobody knew Selma or Julie but they would be overjoyed right now.”
“To hear a guilty verdict for both — we’re blessed.”
The verdict carries an automatic life sentence, though Kahsai’s parole eligibility period still needs to be determined. Nine out of 12 jurors recommended that the ineligibility period be served consecutively, meaning Kahsai wouldn’t be eligible for parole for 50 years.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 5.
On Oct. 19, 2015, Alem and Tran were found stabbed to death in Alem’s home in the northeast Calgary community of Coventry Hills. Kahsai, who was 30 years old at the time, was arrested and charged a little over three weeks after the bodies were discovered. At the time, Alem had an emergency protection order against Kahsai.
Over a decade ago, Alem’s other son, Michael Tsehaie Kahsai, was murdered when he was just a teen. According to court documents, Emanuel Kahsai never recovered from the loss, battling addictions and becoming physically and verbally abusive towards Alem. The emergency protection order was issued a little over four months before the murders.
READ MORE: Son charged in stabbing death of mother, 2nd woman in Coventry Hills home
Watch below: On Nov. 13, 2015, Lisa MacGregor filed this report after Calgary police arrested a man in connection with the stabbing deaths of two Calgary women.
In 2016, Kahsai underwent psychiatric testing and was deemed fit to stand trial. In November 2016, Kahsai dismissed his defence lawyer and chose to represent himself in his legal proceedings.
“I would rather represent myself,” Kahsai told the judge on Nov. 8, 2016. “The evidence should show I’m not guilty.”
READ MORE: Accused in double homicide in Calgary’s Coventry Hills found fit to stand trial
The case proceeded by direct indictment, meaning Kahsai went to trial without a preliminary inquiry. Kahsai was prone to outbursts during his legal proceedings over the past 20 months. On the day he was found fit to stand trial, he told the judge he wanted to be released immediately and asked to speak to a reporter.
Crown prosecutor Todd Buziak said dealing with a defendant like Kahsai required tremendous patience from all parties involved.
“It’s hard to maintain focus but above all is reasonable likelihood of conviction and the public interest. As long as those two are at stake, the Crown leaves no stone unturned and that’s what we did in this case,” added Crown prosecutor Matt Dalidowicz.
Tran’s family has described Alem as being like a mother to her. Tran suffered a brain injury when she was just two years old.
-With files from Blake Lough and Nancy Hixt
Watch below: On Dec. 21, 2015, Nancy Hixt filed this report about how the families of two women murdered in Calgary were speaking out about their loss.