PRINCE ALBERT — Several inmates from the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, charged with aggravated assault following a December 2024 prison brawl, made court appearances in Prince Albert Provincial Court throughout October.
According to court documents, Afrah Ali, 37, (also known as Afrah Ahmed Abdi), Dustin Cookman-Watts, 28, Tremaine Dacres, 30, and Denzil Williams, 39, were charged earlier this year in connection with a violent assault on fellow inmate Abdi-Hafid Mohamed.
Ali appeared in Prince Albert court via CCTV from Quebec’s Donnacona Institution on Oct. 8 and entered a plea of not guilty. His defence counsel told the court they weren’t prepared to enter an election at that time. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 12. Ali, a Somalia national and U. S. permanent resident, was convicted in December 2023 of second-degree murder in the death of Logan Nayneecassum.
Saskatoon police had issued a Canada-wide warrant for Ali’s arrest in August 2020. He was apprehended by U. S. authorities after crossing illegally into Montana from Canada Jan. 23, 2021, and taking law enforcement on a 122 kilometre car chase with speeds reaching up to 209 km/hr, according to U. S. court records. Ali fled to the U. S. with a fellow Somalia national and high-ranking Brothers Keepers gang member. The U.S. Department of Justice identified Afrah Ahmed Abdi, of Virginia, as Afrah Ali through fingerprints.
In June, Cookman-Watts appeared via CCTV from Donnacona Institution and pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault and was given two-years concurrent to his current sentence.
In August, Dacres also pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault and was sentenced to 545 days consecutive to his current sentence.
Williams, who is self-represented, appeared in court via CCTV from Donnacona Institution on Oct. 8. His matter was adjourned to Nov. 12 to give him time to receive disclosure.
ljoy@sasktoday.ca
