Former Gang Member Testifies in Whitehawk Retrial, Acknowledges Limited View of Regina Shooting
A woman who once displayed loyalty to the Indian Mafia street gang took the stand on Friday, promising to tell the truth to a jury in the retrial of Dillon Ricky Whitehawk. The proceedings are being held at Regina's Court of King's Bench, with the witness testifying via video link under a publication ban granted by Associate Chief Justice Michael Tochor.
Contradictory Testimony Emerges in Courtroom
The witness publicly attributed the murder of 27-year-old Jordan Gaiton Denton to Whitehawk, with whom she had previously posed in photographs while both wore the Indian Mafia's signature black colors. However, under intense questioning from defence lawyer Thomas Hynes, she conceded that she couldn't actually see who fired the fatal shot on November 9, 2019.
"All she can really say is the gunshot came from the back seat," Hynes stated during cross-examination, to which the witness responded with a simple "Yeah." When pressed about whether her position in the vehicle prevented her from identifying the shooter, she again agreed with the defence's characterization.
Gang Colors and Disguises Play Central Role
The witness testified that on the night of Denton's killing, she and others were wearing red—a color typically associated with the rival Native Syndicate Killers gang. According to her testimony, the Indian Mafia and NSK were engaged in ongoing conflict, and the red clothing served as a disguise for IM members.
She told Crown prosecutor Adam Breker that when they encountered Denton, he was also wearing red. Police testimony presented conflicting details about Denton's actual clothing, with one officer describing predominantly black and grey attire while another noted a red t-shirt beneath his outer layers.
Detailed Account of the Shooting Incident
According to Friday's witness, after she inquired about Denton's gang affiliations, Whitehawk—who was seated behind her in a two-door car—slid the front passenger seat forward and shot Denton. She testified that two women were in the back seat with Whitehawk, describing them as "soldiers" in the gang while identifying herself as a higher-ranking "crew boss."
The witness denied being the shooter herself, and her testimony aligned with that of a previous witness who was reportedly in a relationship with her. That earlier witness also claimed Whitehawk fired the shot from the back seat.
Whitehawk Faces Multiple Murder Charges
Dillon Ricky Whitehawk, 31, stands charged with two counts of first-degree murder—one related to Denton's death and another concerning the December 1, 2019 death of 23-year-old Keenan Scott Toto. Whitehawk pleaded not guilty to both charges when his retrial began on March 2.
The case continues to unfold in Regina's Court of King's Bench, with gang affiliations, witness credibility, and conflicting testimony forming the complex tapestry of this high-stakes legal proceeding.
