A Calgary man testified Thursday that he heard his dying friend moaning and the accused utter a chilling remark just moments before he called 911, a murder trial heard.
Chilling Testimony in Court
Heath Basque told Calgary Court of King’s Bench that he was walking home in the northwest community of Bowness on September 13, 2023, when he heard a disturbance from Sean Barber's residence. Looking through the balcony door, Basque said he saw the accused, Dennis Hart, sitting on the living room couch.
"I heard my buddy moaning," Basque told Crown prosecutor James Thomas, indicating the sounds came from a loveseat across the room. According to his testimony, Hart then stood up and moved towards Barber.
"It looked like he was striking him, like he was punching down on him," Basque recounted for the jury. He then testified to hearing Hart say to the victim, "Suck it up, you can take more than that."
Events Leading to the Attack
Basque's testimony also detailed events that unfolded more than half an hour before the fatal encounter. He stated he had earlier looked through the same balcony door after hearing someone repeatedly saying "ow." He testified to seeing Hart with his ex-girlfriend, Carley Hunter.
"I seen Dennis twisting her arm. They were sitting on the couch," he said. At that point, Sean Barber intervened, telling Hart that fighting was not allowed in his home.
"Dennis jumped up and punched him in the face and they were striking each other," Basque stated. The witness said he then banged on the front door, yelling that he was the police, which prompted Hunter to exit the residence. The two left together.
The Fatal Return and 911 Call
After walking around the neighbourhood and ensuring Hunter was safe at her boyfriend's nearby home, Basque said he was returning to his own residence when he again heard a commotion from Barber's home.
He testified to hearing Barber say, "I don't know," in response to Hart demanding, "Where is she?" Basque attempted to call 911, but his cellphone battery died. He rushed home to retrieve a charger and then returned to the scene.
Upon his return, he saw Hart back on the couch. "He looked agitated. He kept looking at the love seat and then at his phone," Basque told the court. It was at this point he made the emergency call.
When police arrived, they found Sean Barber in a pool of blood. He had been stabbed 48 times. Hart was seated nearby. Dennis Hart is now charged with second-degree murder in Barber's death. The trial continues.
