A night out at a local Canadian bar turned deadly after an altercation left a 23-year-old with a promising future without life.
On November 5, Hodan Hashi was killed after she was involved in a fight with another patron at a bar. Paige Theriault-Fisher, 22, was initially charged with second-degree murder but was later released on bail after the court reduced her charge to manslaughter. Her family is outraged by the decision and are actively pursuing justice, according to a local news report.
“We are dissatisfied with the decision that was made on (the accused’s) bail, and we do not plan to rest until complete justice is served. This is not going to be swept under the rug or easily forgotten,” said one of Hashi’s siblings, who spoke under anonymilty.
Police officials reduced the suspect’s charge after a video circulated online of the fight. The video has been taken into court as evidence and Theriault-Fisher was released from custody on $5,000 bail.
But the victim’s family is devastated and disappointed by the court’s decision. Loved ones say she was a “kind-hearted, social person with a beautiful smile and many friends.” She is six of nine children whose parents migrated to Canada from Somalia in the late 80s.
Rashi, who has been identified as Muslim, attended a religious school every Saturday at a local mosque. She would frequent trips with her family to their East African home where she would learn more about herself, her roots, religion and culture.
She recently graduated from Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean and intended on attending Saskatchewan Polytechnic, where she planned to study early childhood education. At the time of her death, she worked as a restaurant server and a translator for Somali immigrants.
“We have a baby sister who has an exceptionality and they were really close,” her sibling said. “Hodan wanted to pursue that for her and help make society more inclusive for children like our little sister.”
The sibling continued: “She was the sister who got along with everyone. I’ve never seen her upset. If there was a petty argument between siblings, she was the mediator.”
Nearly 500 people attended her Janaza, an Islamic funeral prayer service.
“Anyone she met she became friends with instantly,” the sibling said. “She was the most kind-hearted and trusting of everyone, and just wasn’t as critical of the world as the rest of us. She had so much joy and hope.”
Her family has created a GoFundMe campaign to assist in funeral expenses. To make a donation and to learn more about Hodan, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/svxqk-funeral-fund
