Appeal denied for man convicted in 2019 stabbing of Windsor father

A higher level of court has upheld a Windsor murder conviction. CTV Windsor’s Michelle Maluske explains.

An appeal has been denied for a man convicted in a 2019 stabbing in Windsor.

Justin Greenwood, 20, was killed on Oct. 19, 2019, in what authorities called a targeted attack.

In 2023, Mustafa Al-Qaysi, then 23, was convicted by a judge to second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.

His lawyers asked the Ontario Court of Appeal (COA) to overturn Justice Kirk Munroe’s conviction.

They felt the judge:

• Didn’t properly consider Al-Qaysi may have been the driver of the minivan used for the crime
• Didn’t provide sufficient explanation for “shoe evidence” (a shoe was found at Al-Qaysi’s home with Greenwood’s blood on it)
• Didn’t properly consider other alternative inferences other than guilt
• Relied too heavily on the evidence of Al-Qaysi’s ex-girlfriend (who identified him initially but recanted during the trial)

In the lengthy decision, the Court of Appeal dismissed all arguments, siding with Justice Munroe.

The COA judges did however find Munroe did not properly understand Al-Qaysi’s evidence on whether or not he was the driver; and therefore, might not have been the man who stabbed Greenwood.

However, they decided the identity of the driver was not a central part of Justice Munroe’s reasons for conviction.

According to the local Crown attorney’s office, a youth who cannot be identified has also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Greenwood’s death.