Calgary man charged with murdering ex-wife ordered for mental-state assessment

A Calgary man accused of murdering his ex-wife is undergoing a psychiatric assessment to determine his mental competence at the time of the killing.

Mohamad Anass Mahmou Al-Sahli, 48, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Anna Brazhko, 38, who was killed on March 4, 2025. Court of King's Bench Justice Jane Sidnell signed off on the assessment following an application by defence lawyers Alain Hepner and Jared Craig.

An NCR (not criminally responsible) assessment examines whether an accused person understood the nature and quality of their alleged act, or knew it was wrong, at the time of the offence. The defence initially sought a fitness assessment as well — to determine whether Al-Sahli understands the court process and can instruct his lawyers — but that application was abandoned Tuesday afternoon.

A publication ban protects the evidence and arguments presented at the hearing by both defence and Crown prosecutors Janice Walsh and Erin Norman.

Al-Sahli's jury trial is set to begin mid-October. At the time of Brazhko's death, he was facing domestic violence charges including assault, choking, and forcible confinement. He later entered into a peace bond in May 2025, meaning those charges were withdrawn. The peace bond included a no-contact order with Brazhko.

On the morning of March 4, police responded to a 911 call from a home in the southwest neighbourhood of Belmont just before 2 a.m. Investigators allege Al-Sahli broke into Brazhko's home, which she shared with her new partner, and fatally assaulted her. He was arrested at the scene.