Items recovered from multiple scenes contain DNA evidence linking two men to the fatal shooting of a Rocky View County worker on a rural intersection east of Calgary less than two years ago, a Calgary courtroom heard Wednesday.
Elijah Blake Strawberry and Arthur Wayne Penner are on trial on charges of second-degree murder in the death of Rocky View Country worker Colin Hough and attempted murder in the shooting of Fortis Alberta worker Matthew Andres.
Hough, a husband and father of two, was fatally shot on Aug. 6, 2024, after it is believed he tried to assist the suspects with their burning truck.
DNA Analysis Presented in Court
On Wednesday, a Court of King’s Bench jury heard testimony from Jasmine Robitaille, a biology reporting scientist with the RCMP, who detailed DNA analysis conducted on evidence collected from several locations connected to the case. Robitaille testified about DNA analysis conducted on items recovered from the scene, including Hough’s stolen work truck.
She also spoke to DNA evidence collected from items found inside Andres’ truck, including a face mask, a cellphone, and a blue shoe. This evidence supports the Crown’s theory that Strawberry and Penner first attempted to rob Andres of his work vehicle before it got stuck in a ditch. When Hough arrived a short time later, he was shot, and the culprits fled in his work truck.
Jurors Follow DNA Reports
Jurors followed along with copies of the DNA reports, taking notes as Crown prosecutor Ryan Ziegler asked Robitaille to walk them through the many conclusions contained within the reports. Strawberry and Penner sat in the prisoner’s box flanked by sheriffs throughout the proceedings. Strawberry wore a white T-shirt with his hair tied in a bun, while Penner wore a suit and glasses.
In her opening address earlier this month, prosecutor Photini Papadatou outlined the Crown’s theory that Strawberry shot Andres and that both accused shot Hough.
Background of the Incident
Court previously heard that Andres, a Fortis Alberta worker, was conducting survey work near the intersection of Township Road 250 and Range Road 282 when a white Dodge Ram approached. An individual exited the truck, shot Andres in the arm, and demanded the keys to his vehicle. The Crown said Andres’ truck later became stuck in a ditch, and investigators recovered several items inside that did not belong to him, including a cellphone and a blue shoe.
“The phone was associated to Mr. Penner and it also contained DNA attributed to Mr. Penner,” Papadatou said at the time. “The blue shoe had DNA attributed both to Mr. Strawberry and Mr. Penner at various areas.” Police also recovered a shell casing near where Andres was shot.
Robitaille’s testimony continued Wednesday afternoon. The four-week murder trial is currently in its third week.
