Jurors begin deliberating in Rocky View County shooting death trial
Two men accused in 2024 roadside killing; jury to weigh circumstantial evidence and DNA.
A Calgary jury began deliberations Friday afternoon in the trial of two men accused of murdering a Rocky View County worker who was shot three times on a rural road near Conrich nearly two years ago.
Elijah Blake Strawberry and Arthur Wayne Penner are charged with second-degree murder in the death of Colin Hough, who was killed on August 6, 2024, after he slowed to investigate a burning vehicle alongside Range Road 282 and Township Road 250.
Hough was fatally shot when he approached the scene. A second victim, FortisAlberta worker Matthew Andres, was also shot in the arm shortly after and had his work truck stolen.
The Crown's theory, presented by prosecutor Photini Papadatou, relies on circumstantial evidence: DNA from both accused found at the scene and nearby, plus eyewitness testimony from Andres, who said he saw two figures rushing toward Hough's truck before shooting.
The defence argued there are innocent explanations for the presence of their clients' genetic material on items recovered from the area. Both lawyers maintained the Crown failed to prove their clients were present at the time of Hough's killing.
Justice Shane Parker granted a defence application to exclude attempted murder charges related to Andres, finding insufficient evidence that both accused intended him harm or had knowledge he would be shot.
Strawberry and Penner also face two armed robbery charges each: one related to the theft of Hough's work truck and another for the attempted theft of Andres' company pickup.
The retrial date is set for September 13, 2027.