Murder trial begins in triple homicide
Motive in triple slaying a mystery
Murder trial told new facts about attack
Motive in triple slaying a mystery
Murder trial told new facts about attack
A 17-year-old youth accused in a triple homicide at a Winnipeg house party began his murder trial Monday.
The teen was allegedly one of two masked gunmen who burst into the home on Alexander Avenue in Winnipeg's Weston neighbourhood on March 29, 2008, and opened fire.
Scott Lavallee, 31, Corey Keeper, 22, and Jennifer Ward, 26, died from their injuries after they were at the house party. Three other people were wounded: two men, aged 19 and 29, and a 41-year-old woman. They survived the attack.
The 17-year-old accused was 15 at the time of the shooting. His alleged accomplice, a 20-year-old man who was 18 at the time, is scheduled for trial later this month.
Each is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
Both are linked to Winnipeg street gangs, but police have said the shootings were not gang-related.
A jury of five women and seven men began hearing the prosecution present its case against the 17-year-old on Monday morning.
They were told the two gunmen sprayed more than 19 shots inside the house at about 3:30 a.m. Photographs of the bullet holes in the walls of the home were provided to the jury by Crown prosecutor Dale Schille, who called the shooting an "horrific crime."
The challenge for the Crown will be to prove the accused, who cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act was one of the gunmen.
No one at the party could identify the two shooters whose identities were concealed.
The three people wounded at the party are expected to testify during the trial, which is being heard by Justice Colleen Suche and is set for two weeks.
- The reason why three Winnipeggers died in a hail of gunfire at an Alexander Avenue house party may remain a mystery but that doesn’t mean a 17-year-old boy can’t be convicted in their murders, a jury was told Monday.
Scott Lavallee, 31, Corey Keeper, 22, and Jennifer Ward, 26, were killed in the early morning hours of March 29, 2008 after two masked gunmen walked into a house party and opened fire. Three others were wounded.
The accused, who cannot be named, is on trial charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
“The motive is somewhat sketchy,” said Crown attorney Dale Schille in his opening address to jurors. “There are certain things the Crown has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, motive is not one of them.”
A now 20-year-old male co-accused is being tried separately.
The Crown alleges the adult accused left the party suddenly and returned a short time later with the then 15-year-old accused, both of them masked and armed.
“Two masked men stepped into the kitchen from the back door,” Schille told jurors. “I expect that you are going to hear that without any words being spoken, both men pulled out handguns and started shooting.”
No witnesses at the party were able to identify the shooters, Schille said.
Shooting victim Alicia Courchene testified she was speaking to Ward in the kitchen when, from the corner of her eye, she noticed two men enter the house.
“It didn’t alarm me because it was a party,” she said.
The men opened fire immediately. Courchene was shot in the shoulder.
“I got shot right away,” she said. “I went down. I could just hear them (the shots). I don’t remember how many.” Const. Steven Bell of the Winnipeg Police Service identification unit testified at least 19 shots were fired in the house.
Schille told jurors they will hear testimony from a man who drove the two accused to the party after they had armed themselves. Howard Roulette was initially a suspect in the killings but charges against him were later stayed, Schille said.
“On the way there both accused produced guns and (the adult accused) indicated he intends to shoot the place up,” Schille alleged. “At this point Mr. Roulette objects and (the adult accused) responds by pointing a gun to his head and telling him he has no choice.”
The trial is scheduled for two weeks.
- New details are emerging about an attack two years ago that left three people dead and another three seriously injured after two masked men ambushed the group during a house party.
- "What happened at 1398 Alexander Ave. that night (March 29, 2008) was horrific," Crown attorney Dale Schille told jurors Monday during the opening of a high-profile trial.
- The 17 year old teen on trial, who was 15 at the time, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
- If he is convicted, an adult sentence is expected.
- His 20 year old co-accused, Colton Patchinose, has been charged but will stand trial at a later date.
- Most of the Crown's case is built around the evidence of a 3rd man who was originally arrested only to later have his charges dropped by the Crown (seems a little fishy to me.. why would they suddenly drop his charges and give no reason? Were they dropped as an exchange for his testimony? If so, that's completely wrong and doing so, can lead to wrongful convictions.)
- Howard Roulette, 27, has close ties with the two accused and is expected to testify about the events leading up to, and following, the shooting spree. The Crown expects defence lawyers to challenge his credibility and try to paint him as a liar. Schille urged jurors not to be fooled.
- "Ask yourselves what possible motive does Howard Roulette have to fabricate the evidence." he said in his opening statement.
- Scott Lavallee, 31, Jennifer Ward, 26, and Corey Keeper, 22, suffered fatal injuries after being struck at close range by at least eight of the 19 bullets that were fired that night, court was told.
- Nearly 30 people had gathered at the Weston-area home for a party, including Roulette and Patchinose. The two men had met each other weeks earlier because their girlfriends were roommates.
- "The two weren't at the party very long before Patchinose said he wanted to leave," said Schille. Roulette was driving his car that night and claims he took Patchinose to a home on Pritchard Avenue, where he was told to wait outside.
- Patchinose emerged a few minutes later with the youth who is now on trial, said Schille. Patchinose allegedly told Roulette he wanted to return to the party on Alexander.
- "On the way there, both the accused produced guns," said Schille. Patchinose allegedly claimed he wanted to go back inside and "shoot the place up," he said.
- Roulette claims he balked at their plans and said he didn't want to be involved. Patchinose allegedly threatened to shoot him if he didn't comply.
- "He did so, literally, at the point of a gun. He didn't have much of a choice," said Schille.
- Roulette claims he was ordered to park down the street, then says he watched as the two accused ran towards the home, guns drawn. The scene inside and immediately outside the home was one of utter chaos, with bodies and blood splattered everywhere, court was told.
- "Without any words being spoken, both men pulled out handguns and started shooting," said Schille.
- The gunmen returned moments later.
- "Among other things, they were talking about how easy it was," said Schille. He told jurors they may hear "some evidence" of a potential motive but that finding one isn't crucial to the Crown's case.
- Police broke the case open after learning Roulette had been at the party earlier in the night through his cousin, who was also present. He was interviewed and initially claimed to have no knowledge about what happened.
- "But fairly quickly he breaks down and tells police the whole story," said Schille.
Police charge 15 year old with first degree murder in triple slaying
Gang associates charged in slayings were out on bail
Murder suspect was only a witness
Two men arrested in Winnipeg shooting
Mask wearing gunmen targeted victims
Murder trial gets underway for triple homicide
- The reason why three Winnipeggers died in a hail of gunfire at an Alexander Avenue house party may remain a mystery but that doesn’t mean a 17-year-old boy can’t be convicted in their murders, a jury was told Monday.
Scott Lavallee, 31, Corey Keeper, 22, and Jennifer Ward, 26, were killed in the early morning hours of March 29, 2008 after two masked gunmen walked into a house party and opened fire. Three others were wounded.
The accused, who cannot be named, is on trial charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
“The motive is somewhat sketchy,” said Crown attorney Dale Schille in his opening address to jurors. “There are certain things the Crown has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, motive is not one of them.”
A now 20-year-old male co-accused is being tried separately.
The Crown alleges the adult accused left the party suddenly and returned a short time later with the then 15-year-old accused, both of them masked and armed.
“Two masked men stepped into the kitchen from the back door,” Schille told jurors. “I expect that you are going to hear that without any words being spoken, both men pulled out handguns and started shooting.”
No witnesses at the party were able to identify the shooters, Schille said.
Shooting victim Alicia Courchene testified she was speaking to Ward in the kitchen when, from the corner of her eye, she noticed two men enter the house.
“It didn’t alarm me because it was a party,” she said.
The men opened fire immediately. Courchene was shot in the shoulder.
“I got shot right away,” she said. “I went down. I could just hear them (the shots). I don’t remember how many.” Const. Steven Bell of the Winnipeg Police Service identification unit testified at least 19 shots were fired in the house.
Schille told jurors they will hear testimony from a man who drove the two accused to the party after they had armed themselves. Howard Roulette was initially a suspect in the killings but charges against him were later stayed, Schille said.
“On the way there both accused produced guns and (the adult accused) indicated he intends to shoot the place up,” Schille alleged. “At this point Mr. Roulette objects and (the adult accused) responds by pointing a gun to his head and telling him he has no choice.”
The trial is scheduled for two weeks.
- New details are emerging about an attack two years ago that left three people dead and another three seriously injured after two masked men ambushed the group during a house party.
- "What happened at 1398 Alexander Ave. that night (March 29, 2008) was horrific," Crown attorney Dale Schille told jurors Monday during the opening of a high-profile trial.
- The 17 year old teen on trial, who was 15 at the time, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
- If he is convicted, an adult sentence is expected.
- His 20 year old co-accused, Colton Patchinose, has been charged but will stand trial at a later date.
- Most of the Crown's case is built around the evidence of a 3rd man who was originally arrested only to later have his charges dropped by the Crown (seems a little fishy to me.. why would they suddenly drop his charges and give no reason? Were they dropped as an exchange for his testimony? If so, that's completely wrong and doing so, can lead to wrongful convictions.)
- Howard Roulette, 27, has close ties with the two accused and is expected to testify about the events leading up to, and following, the shooting spree. The Crown expects defence lawyers to challenge his credibility and try to paint him as a liar. Schille urged jurors not to be fooled.
- "Ask yourselves what possible motive does Howard Roulette have to fabricate the evidence." he said in his opening statement.
- Scott Lavallee, 31, Jennifer Ward, 26, and Corey Keeper, 22, suffered fatal injuries after being struck at close range by at least eight of the 19 bullets that were fired that night, court was told.
- Nearly 30 people had gathered at the Weston-area home for a party, including Roulette and Patchinose. The two men had met each other weeks earlier because their girlfriends were roommates.
- "The two weren't at the party very long before Patchinose said he wanted to leave," said Schille. Roulette was driving his car that night and claims he took Patchinose to a home on Pritchard Avenue, where he was told to wait outside.
- Patchinose emerged a few minutes later with the youth who is now on trial, said Schille. Patchinose allegedly told Roulette he wanted to return to the party on Alexander.
- "On the way there, both the accused produced guns," said Schille. Patchinose allegedly claimed he wanted to go back inside and "shoot the place up," he said.
- Roulette claims he balked at their plans and said he didn't want to be involved. Patchinose allegedly threatened to shoot him if he didn't comply.
- "He did so, literally, at the point of a gun. He didn't have much of a choice," said Schille.
- Roulette claims he was ordered to park down the street, then says he watched as the two accused ran towards the home, guns drawn. The scene inside and immediately outside the home was one of utter chaos, with bodies and blood splattered everywhere, court was told.
- "Without any words being spoken, both men pulled out handguns and started shooting," said Schille.
- The gunmen returned moments later.
- "Among other things, they were talking about how easy it was," said Schille. He told jurors they may hear "some evidence" of a potential motive but that finding one isn't crucial to the Crown's case.
- Police broke the case open after learning Roulette had been at the party earlier in the night through his cousin, who was also present. He was interviewed and initially claimed to have no knowledge about what happened.
- "But fairly quickly he breaks down and tells police the whole story," said Schille.
Police charge 15 year old with first degree murder in triple slaying
Gang associates charged in slayings were out on bail
Murder suspect was only a witness
Two men arrested in Winnipeg shooting
Mask wearing gunmen targeted victims
Murder trial gets underway for triple homicide
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