An providing detainee that’s at the moment admitted to homicide rejected to affirm on the take a look at of three males that likewise encounter homicide charges in the exact same occasion.
Although he was initially billed with first-degree homicide, Justin Urban, 34, begged responsible in April to second-degree homicide within the February 2022 fatality of Chad Kowalchuk, 53, whose southeast Calgary dwelling was heated 5 days after he was eradicated.
Three others, Justin Boucher, 33, Ronald Abraham, 44, and Robert Sims, 32, are at the moment on take a look at for first-degree homicide.
Urban and Kowalchuk have been roomies on the time of the homicide.
Urban confessed to his operate within the homicide final springtime, but on Thursday, when referred to as by the prosecution as a witness on the triad’s take a look at, Urban rejected to affirm.
“I don’t wanna take an oath on the Bible or promise or anything like that,” said Urban.
The courtroom knowledgeable Urban he was “required to testify.”
“No,” said Urban.
Jurors excused for the day
Jurors have been after that requested to go away the realm.
When they have been restored in, Justice Lisa Silver offered a mid-trial guideline.
“You have heard that Mr. Urban refused to testify,” Silver said. “You must not draw any inferences from Mr. Urban’s refusal to be sworn or his refusal to testify.”
Jurors have been excused for the day and requested to return Friday.
The take a look at has really been competing 4 weeks.
‘ An objective for murder’
In the Crown’s opening up declaration on Day 1, jurors listened to that of Kowalchuk’s roomies unfold out a hearsay that he was a pedophile.
That story “became a motive for murder,” said district legal professional Vicki Faulkner.
Kowalchuk handled well being and wellness considerations and invested a variety of his time in his mattress room. He maintained a safe there which contained drugs, which his roomies learnt about.
On Feb 13, 2022, what began as an supposed break-in of Kowalchuk’s safe developed right into a strike on a man they thought harm children.
‘Vicious and unrelenting’ whipping
The males are charged of “viciously and unrelentingly” whipping Kowalchuk.
Two of his fingers have been nearly eliminated. He was locked up, defeated and left for useless on the flooring of his space, in line with the Crown.
Faulkner knowledgeable jurors the males returned over the next 5 days to rob the house previous to establishing it ablaze onFeb 18 in an initiative to damage proof and “to try and get away with murder.”
Kowalchuk’s physique was discovered by firemens. They likewise found jerry canisters and gasoline storage tanks all through the Douglasdale dwelling.
