DNA Evidence Links Two Men to Rocky View Worker's Death
DNA from multiple crime scenes ties accused to fatal shooting of Colin Hough, 34, who tried to help stranded motorists.
DNA evidence recovered from multiple scenes has been presented to a jury as linking two men to the fatal August 2024 shooting of Colin Hough, a Rocky View County worker.
Elijah Blake Strawberry and Arthur Wayne Penner are on trial on charges of second-degree murder in Hough's death and attempted murder in the shooting of Fortis Alberta worker Matthew Andres. The Crown's theory: the men first tried to rob Andres near a rural intersection east of Calgary. When Andres' truck got stuck in a ditch, Hough arrived to help and was fatally shot.
Wednesday, the jury heard from Jasmine Robitaille, an RCMP biology reporting scientist, who detailed DNA analysis of items recovered from the scene, Hough's stolen truck, and Andres' vehicle. DNA from a face mask, cellphone, and blue shoe found in Andres' truck linked both accused to the attempted robbery, Crown prosecutor Ryan Ziegler explained.
Hough, a husband and father of two, was shot after trying to assist what he believed were motorists with a vehicle problem—a fatal assumption. The trial is in its third week of a planned four-week schedule. Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou previously outlined the theory that Strawberry shot Andres and that both men shot Hough.