A jury has begun deliberations in a high-stakes second-degree murder trial involving two men accused of a deadly shooting on a southern Alberta highway that claimed the life of a Rocky View County employee.
The case centres on events from Aug. 6, 2024, when Colin Hough was shot and killed after stopping to assist at the scene of a disabled vehicle east of Calgary. Court heard that Hough, a Rocky View County worker, encountered a chaotic situation that would end tragically.
The Sequence of Events
According to Crown prosecutors, the incident unfolded in minutes when two armed men approached a power company worker, Matthew Andres, on the roadway. Andres was shot and wounded through the arm during the encounter. The assailants then seized his truck, but the vehicle became stuck on the road.
When Hough arrived moments later to investigate the abandoned vehicle, he was fatally shot. The attackers then fled in his vehicle, leaving behind a trail of violence that shocked the rural community.
The Crown's Case
Prosecutors have presented what they characterize as compelling evidence linking Arthur Penner and Elijah Strawberry to the shootings. Crown lawyers have argued that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates the two accused men were responsible for both the attack on Andres and the fatal shooting of Hough.
Defence Arguments
The defence team has mounted a different strategy, focusing on identification challenges. Defence lawyers contend that because the shooters' faces were covered during the incident, the evidence is insufficient to definitively identify their clients as the perpetrators. This reasonable doubt argument forms the cornerstone of their case.
The Jury's Task
Following three weeks of testimony and evidence presentation, Court of King's Bench Justice Shane Parker provided final instructions to the jury on Friday. Justice Parker emphasized the importance of maintaining an open mind and basing any verdict exclusively on the evidence presented during the trial.
The jury's deliberations come as the rural community near Calgary continues to grapple with the tragic loss. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for both the accused men and for Hough's family and colleagues at Rocky View County.
This article is based on reporting from Global Calgary.