A defence lawyer for Ibrahim Ali, who was convicted of first-degree murder of a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby, B.C., said on Tuesday his client wants to appear at his sentencing hearing by video due to fear for his safety.

Kevin McCullough told a B.C. Supreme Court judge that Ali's attendance in person poses "real safety issues'' and he's prepared to file additional affidavits to support the defence position.

Ali's defence has previously told the court that the victim's father brought a gun to cour…