Zekarias Semret and Scott

: Adonay Zekarias has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the case, according to Brandon Sun. But Crown prosecutors allege he was Semret killer. "When all the pieces of the puzzle are put together, all of the evidence will point to Adonay Zekarias guilt," Crown prosecutor Meghan Scott said in an opening statement which provided a roadmap of the evidence expected in the case. The motive for Nighisti Semret death, however, remained shrouded in mystery. Zekarias and Semret knew each other, Scott said — they were both refugees from the North African country of Eritrea, had once lived in the same refugee shelter for a time, and went to English lessons together for a time. She was walking home from an overnight shift around 7 a.m. on Oct. 23, 2012 when, unbeknownst to her, she was followed by a man, Scott said. Immigration records also show they were members of the same church in Eritrea, Scott said. "We have an obligation to prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that Adonay Zekarias committed the planned and deliberate murder of Nighisti Semret," Scott told the jury hearing the case. "We do not, however, have to prove why he killed her and I don't anticipate that we will be able to." Semret, 55-year-old a mother of three, was a housekeeper at a busy downtown hotel. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.