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Pair charged in cab driver's death appear in court

Two men charged with murder in connection with the death of a Yellowknife cab driver appeared in court last week, where more than a dozen friends and former colleagues of the deceased offered an outpouring of support.

Elias Schiller, 18, and James Schiller, 49, both made brief court appearances in Yellowknife's territorial court on Friday.

Numerous sources tell Yellowknifer the two accused are father and son.

Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a longtime City Cab driver, was pronounced dead in the early hours of Monday, Nov. 19 after being found unconscious in the back seat of his taxi outside Stanton Territorial Hospital.

James Schiller, 49, of Yellowknife, hides his face as he enters the Yellowknife courthouse on Friday. Schiller is one of two charged with murder in connection with the death of a City Cab driver early last week.
Brendan Burke/NNSL photo

Yellowknife RCMP charged Elias Schiller with murder the next day. James Schiller was charged with murder on Thursday.

Many members of the city's taxi cab community crowded into a Yellowknife courtroom Friday morning, where Elias Schiller sat in a prisoner's booth, hanging his head with his eyes fixed to the floor.

Outside the courthouse, Tamer Akbulut, a taxi driver who knew Ali, expressed sadness – and frustration – over his death.

Tamer Akbulut, a taxi driver in Yellowknife, says he’s frustrated with the level of risk cabbies face in the city in the wake of Ali’s death. “That shouldn’t be happening.”
Brendan Burke/NNSL photo

We are losing people here in Yellowknife. It’s a very, very, very sad story,” Akbulut told Yellowknifer.

Akblut said he can understand higher levels of violent crime in bigger cities – but not in Yellowknife.

“That shouldn’t be happening,” he said.

“Whoever is supposed to care for the safety of our town, they should do a much, much better job.”

“I am very frustrated,” said Akbulut. “I cannot find the reason why this happens here ….”

Yellowknifer is awaiting comment from RCMP on the number of recorded assaults against taxi drivers in the city year-to-year. But given that the reporting system used “may not capture” the occupation of victims, a spokesperson said the statistics may be unavailable

Akblut, who used to stop and chat with Ali while out on the road, called the victim a “great guy.”

“Always smiling, always in a good mood,” he said.

James Schiller, who appeared in court Friday afternoon, hid his face as he was ushered into the courthouse.

Elias Schiller’s next court appearance has been set for Dec. 13. James Schiller will appear in court via video on Dec. 11.