In a Calgary courtroom on Thursday, a prosecutor argued that the circumstantial evidence presented during the trial of two men accused of murdering a Rocky View County employee should lead jurors to a single conclusion: both defendants are guilty. Elijah Blake Strawberry and Arthur Wayne Penner face charges of second-degree murder in the death of Colin Hough, a worker who was fatally shot on August 6, 2024.
Prosecutor Details Evidence
During her closing address to a Calgary Court of King's Bench jury, Crown lawyer Photini Papadatou outlined the evidence she believes proves the guilt of Strawberry and Penner. Hough was shot three times, including one bullet that pierced his heart, as he approached a burning vehicle at the intersection of Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, just east of Calgary. His vehicle was then stolen and sped away from the scene.
Papadatou emphasized that the evidence points to two perpetrators. "The offence before you involved two men, two shooters, two guns, two stolen vehicles, two robberies and one death, and both these men are responsible," she stated. She questioned whether there were any other reasonable explanations for the events.
Charges and Acquittal
Strawberry and Penner are charged with second-degree murder in connection with Hough's fatal shooting, as well as two counts each of armed robbery for stealing Hough's work truck and attempting to rob Matthew Andres of his FortisAlberta company vehicle. They were also charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Andres, who was wounded in the arm when a masked man approached him, shot him, and demanded his truck keys. However, Justice Shane Parker informed jurors on Wednesday that he was entering an acquittal on the attempted murder charge.
Evidence and Testimony
Papadatou suggested that Strawberry shot Andres with a 9mm handgun while Penner set fire to the stolen truck they had arrived in, which had a flat tire. Andres testified that after being shot, he managed to run from his assailant and observed the burning vehicle and a Rocky View County truck pulling up, with two men running toward it and opening fire. DNA evidence found on items at the scene and in the area, including in Andres's moved truck, which got stuck in a ditch, placed both Penner and Strawberry at the scene during the killing.
The trial continues with final submissions from defence counsel Rebecca Snukal and Alexandra Seaman on Thursday afternoon.
