After jury delays, Crown outlines case in Josue Silva shooting death
Five members of the jury selected for the murder trial of two people charged in connection with the shooting death of Josue Silva were replaced on Wednesday because they admitted they wouldn’t be able to fulfil their commitment to the 10-week trial.
Once new members were chosen Wednesday afternoon, the trial got underway with Justice Patricia Moore detailing the jury’s responsibility and Crown attorney Kristina Mildred outlining the case for the prosecution.
In her opening address, Mildred told the jury what was supposed to be a fun bush party off Pack Road on July 30, 2021 for more than 100 young people turned deadly in a matter of minutes.
She said, "It all started over a spilled drink and a verbal confrontation."
Mildred told the court that evidence will show it was at that point that the accused, Emily Altmann, 22, got very upset and angry and she called the co-accused, Carlos Guerra Guerra, 23, who drove across town and showed up with a bunch of friends.
Mildred said from some of those leaving the party, "You will hear their observation of masked men and weapons."
The Crown said some people were hiding in the bush but that, "Ultimately a physical altercation occurred...during this confrontation Josue Silva was shot in the abdomen at close range."
The 18-year-old Silva was rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Both Altmann and Guerra Guerra have plead not guilty to second-degree murder and assault causing bodily harm.
So far, family members from both the victim and the accused are seated in the body of the courtroom for the proceedings which are expected to last 10 weeks.
Before wrapping up her opening address, Mildred told the court that the jury will be shown a number of text exchanges believed to be between the two co-accused after the shooting.
Mildred said Guerra Guerra texted, "Tell everyone to keep their f-----g mouth shut, if he dies you already know what time it is."
It goes on to say, "If anyone in your group snitched you know what is going to happen to them."
Up to 200 witnesses could be called in the case with the first one expected to take the stand Thursday morning.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Prime Minister Trudeau to meet Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has landed in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday evening to meet with U.S.-president elect Donald Trump, sources confirm to CTV News.
'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!': Details emerge in Boeing 737 incident at Montreal airport
New details suggest that there were communication issues between the pilots of a charter flight and the control tower at Montreal's Mirabel airport when a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
Hit man offered $100,000 to kill Montreal crime reporter covering his trial
Political leaders and press freedom groups on Friday were left shell-shocked after Montreal news outlet La Presse revealed that a hit man had offered $100,000 to have one of its crime reporters assassinated.
Questrade lays off undisclosed number of employees
Questrade Financial Group Inc. says it has laid off an undisclosed number of employees to better fit its business strategy.
Cucumbers sold in Ontario, other provinces recalled over possible salmonella contamination
A U.S. company is recalling cucumbers sold in Ontario and other Canadian provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
Billboard apologizes to Taylor Swift for video snafu
Billboard put together a video of some of Swift's achievements and used a clip from Kanye West's music video for the song 'Famous.'
Musk joins Trump and family for Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago
Elon Musk had a seat at the family table for Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago, joining President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and their 18-year-old son.
John Herdman resigns as head coach of Toronto FC
John Herdman, embroiled in the drone-spying scandal that has dogged Canada Soccer, has resigned as coach of Toronto FC.
Weekend weather: Parts of Canada could see up to 50 centimetres of snow, wind chills of -40
Winter is less than a month away, but parts of Canada are already projected to see winter-like weather.