Inmate charged in fatal jailhouse assault

An Ottawa man is dead and another inmate is charged with first-degree murder following a fatal assault at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, Ottawa police said Wednesday. 

Amr Zohair, 40, died from his injuries on Sunday, three days after he was assaulted at the Innes Road jail, police said.

Marc Lebrun-Fortin, 44, also from Ottawa, was initially charged with aggravated assault. That charge was upgraded to first-degree murder after Zohair's death.

Lebrun-Fortin appeared in court Wednesday morning and remains in custody, police said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the homicide unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5492.