PRINCE ALBERT – An inmate at Saskatchewan Penitentiary, Mohamud Dirie, was found guilty Monday of assault causing bodily harm against another inmate.
Dirie and another inmate assaulted a third inmate, Brandon Peeteetuce, on Oct. 7, 2021. Peeteetuce refused to cooperate with penitentiary staff or RCMP in their investigation but the assault was captured on video cameras in the penitentiary.
“When violence occurs in a correctional facility, it is seldom the case that any of the inmates cooperate with investigators, even when serious injuries are sustained," said Judge S. D. Schiefner in his June 26 written decision. "Such was the case in these proceedings. Most of the events relevant to these proceedings were captured by video cameras located throughout the penitentiary.”
During a trial in Prince Albert Provincial Court on May 12, Crown Prosecutor Natasha Maclean entered three videos as evidence and Judge Schiefner said he was satisfied that the video evidence was reliable and an accurate depiction of the assault.
Court heard that the assault occurred in Unit 7, a recreational area between I Range and J Range recreation areas. Inmates are in direct secure observation areas known as units. A typical unit has more than one range that contains cells, shared washers, dryers, showers, a kitchenette with tables and chairs, and recreational facilities.
A camera in the kitchenette area beside I Range caught an inmate, Azizullah Hadi, rushing toward a door that had unexpectedly opened. Court heard that a guard had “inadvertently” opened the door. Dirie is seen following Hadi through the door to the Recreation Area. Dirie grabbed a meal tray and put it and his sweater in the door so that it wouldn’t close completely and he went into the Recreation Area. An officer is seen rushing past the observation area toward the Recreation Area.
The second and third videos on the back wall of the Recreation Area captured the assault. Hadi can be seen striking Peeteetuce in the upper portion of his left arm in a motion consistent with a stabbing strike. Peeteetuce ran from him and went behind a table. Dirie is seen entering the Recreation Area. Hadi is seen holding a weapon in his right hand and chasing Peeteetuce with Dirie following. Dirie grabbed Peeteetuce and pushed him to the ground. While he is on the ground both Dirie and Hadi repeatedly punch and kick him for about 10 seconds. Peeteetuce is seen lying on the floor with his hands over his head and curled up in a ball.
A correctional officer testified that he was first on scene after he had heard a radio transmission that there was a fight in the Recreation Room. He recognized the three inmates and he said he saw Dirie and Hadi striking Peeteetuce with “full force blows” repeatedly punching and kicking Peeteetuce. Court heard that Peeteetuce had two circular wounds on his left arm and a laceration.
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