Karim Meskine turned 19 years old on Dec. 20 - the same day his family gathered at Royal Columbian Hospital to take the young man off life support.
The day that should have been a happy occasion for Meskine and his family was marked by tragedy.
"His dad was supposed to have a surprise party or something for him - and this all happened," Tunde Alatise, a close family friend, told The Province.
The 19-year-old Surrey resident was walking near 22nd SkyTrain station at about 8 p.m. on Dec. 17 when a 16-year-old allegedly beat Meskine with a bat after attempting to rob him, as previously reported by The Record.
Meskine was found unconscious by a passerby and taken to hospital, where he remained in a coma until Dec. 20, according to police.
"You hear (these stories on) the news sometimes, you don't know the degree it has on the family, but when it happens close to home, it's just so sad."
Alatise wasn't the only friend shocked to hear the news of what happened to the teen many describe as "quiet and shy."
"I didn't believe something like this would happen to him," said Margaret Bertrand, a longtime friend of Meskine. "I've never seen him hurt anybody, ... he would never do anything to hurt anyone and so for something this tragic to happen to him, it's just not something that I think would ever happen to him."
Bertrand and a group of Meskine's friends from high school organized a memorial dinner at a restaurant in Surrey on Dec. 23. At the event they collected more than $500 in donations for a trust fund that has been set up in memory of Meskine, who leaves behind his parents, two younger brothers and a younger sister.
Meskine was laid to rest on Dec. 24 at Victory Memorial Park in White Rock, following a prayer service attended by family and friends at Surrey's Jamea Mosque.
Police arrested a 16-year-old suspect shortly after Meskine was found on Dec. 17. The youth, who will not be named, was eventually charged with assault with a weapon and aggravated assault, but those charges were upgraded when Meskine passed away.
The youth is now facing a second-degree murder charge. He appeared in court for a bail hearing on Dec. 24 - the same day the funeral service was held for Meskine.
The details of the hearing will not be released. The youth will remain in custody until his next appearance sometime in the new year.
Anyone wishing to donate to Karim Meskine's trust fund can do so at any TD branch using branch number 9028 and account number 6083916. If anyone wants to send e-transfers they can do so via the email [email protected].
For more information on the trust fund or how to donate, visit www.facebook.com and search “R.I.P Karim.”
- With files from The Province
