Alex William Knatchbell, 26, was shot within the arm, neck and torso and died from a number of gunshot wounds, whereas slumped in his Nissan Pathfinder
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VICTORIA — Late on Jan. 20, 2020, a West Shore man lured a recognized drug seller to Humpback Street and shot him 12 instances with a Ruger rifle, a B.C. Supreme Court docket trial heard Monday.
Alex William Knatchbell, 26, was shot within the arm, neck and torso and died from the a number of gunshot wounds whereas slumped ahead in his Nissan Pathfinder, Crown prosecutor Clare Jennings informed the court docket in her opening remarks at Damien Medwedrich’s trial for first-degree homicide.
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Knatchbell’s Pathfinder crashed right into a tree, blocking the street. Its airbags have been deployed and flashers have been going when a automotive got here round a nook. A passenger within the automotive known as out, however noticed and heard nothing and known as 911, mentioned Jennings.
The routine name a few automotive crash took a darker flip when first responders arrived at round 11:35 p.m. and found Knatchbell’s physique.
Paramedics seen damaged glass on the street and drew it to the eye of police, who found eight to 10 .22-calibre bullet shell casings on the street, mentioned Jennings.
Admissions of reality involving cellphone information and surveillance video footage that positioned Medwedrich’s blue Saturn automotive within the space have been learn into the court docket file.
“I count on there can be little dispute that Damian Medwedrich was current on the time of the capturing,” Jennings informed Justice Veronica Jackson. “The problem for this court docket to find out is whether or not Damian Medwedrich shot and killed Alex Knatchbell and in that case, whether or not that killing was deliberate and deliberate.”
5 Crown witnesses are anticipated to testify on the judge-alone trial.
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The primary witness, who can’t be recognized and is within the witness safety program, took the stand Monday, testifying from behind a display.
He informed the court docket that in January 2020 he purchased and used medicine from Knatchbell, whom he knew as “Pete.”
On the evening of Jan. 20, the witness testified, Medwedrich requested the witness for assist shopping for medicine, then got here by his mom’s home and picked him up.
The witness testified that he didn’t count on to be out for lengthy and got here out of the home in a dressing robe, shorts and a T-shirt.
Medwedrich took the person’s cellphone and organized to select up medicine from Knatchbell, he mentioned. They drove to Humpback Street and parked on the facet of the street. Medwedrich bought out of the automotive.
“And I heard photographs,” the witness testified.
The unidentified man couldn’t say how lengthy they have been at Humpback Street. His testimony is predicted to proceed right now.
In her opening assertion, Jennings informed the court docket the witness is predicted to testify that after he heard the photographs, Medwedrich drove away very quick and the witness made a video of Medwedrich speaking on the cellphone about what he had achieved.
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The admissions additionally revealed that Medwedrich was arrested 10 days later in Prince George with the homicide weapon.
On the early morning of Jan. 30, safety on the Pine Centre Mall known as police to inform them {that a} blue Saturn had crashed by means of a barrier and bought caught in a snowbank.
At round 1:15 a.m. Medwedrich walked out of the car parking zone carrying a Ruger rifle with a scope connected and a banana clip journal beneath a blanket
When Medwedrich noticed police, he turned and commenced strolling away. Police stopped and requested what he was doing. Medwedrich mentioned he was out for a stroll carrying a blanket. Police informed him to cease, however he broke right into a run, fleeing up and over a snowbank, the admissions say.
Medwedrich slipped and fell and dropped the rifle and ammunition, however bought up and saved working, leaving the weapon behind. He was finally tracked by a police canine close to a golf course.
The rifle is the one used to shoot Knatchbell, the admissions of reality say.
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