An offering detainee that’s currently admitted to murder rejected to affirm at the test of 3 males that likewise encounter murder fees in the very same instance.
Although he was initially billed with first-degree murder, Justin Urban, 34, begged guilty in April to second-degree murder in the February 2022 fatality of Chad Kowalchuk, 53, whose southeast Calgary home was heated 5 days after he was eliminated.
Three others, Justin Boucher, 33, Ronald Abraham, 44, and Robert Sims, 32, are currently on test for first-degree murder.
Urban and Kowalchuk were roomies at the time of the murder.
Urban confessed to his function in the murder last springtime, yet on Thursday, when called by the prosecution as a witness at the triad’s test, Urban rejected to affirm.
“I don’t wanna take an oath on the Bible or promise or anything like that,” stated Urban.
The court informed Urban he was “required to testify.”
“No,” stated Urban.
Jurors excused for the day
Jurors were after that asked to leave the area.
When they were restored in, Justice Lisa Silver provided a mid-trial guideline.
“You have heard that Mr. Urban refused to testify,” Silver stated. “You must not draw any inferences from Mr. Urban’s refusal to be sworn or his refusal to testify.”
Jurors were excused for the day and asked to return Friday.
The test has actually been competing 4 weeks.
‘ An objective for murder’
In the Crown’s opening up declaration on Day 1, jurors listened to that of Kowalchuk’s roomies spread out a rumour that he was a pedophile.
That tale “became a motive for murder,” stated district attorney Vicki Faulkner.
Kowalchuk dealt with health and wellness concerns and invested a lot of his time in his bed room. He maintained a secure there which contained medications, which his roomies learnt about.
On Feb 13, 2022, what started as an intended break-in of Kowalchuk’s secure developed into a strike on a guy they thought hurt youngsters.
‘Vicious and unrelenting’ whipping
The males are charged of “viciously and unrelentingly” whipping Kowalchuk.
Two of his fingers were virtually removed. He was locked up, defeated and left for dead on the flooring of his area, according to the Crown.
Faulkner informed jurors the males returned over the following 5 days to rob the home prior to establishing it ablaze onFeb 18 in an initiative to ruin proof and “to try and get away with murder.”
Kowalchuk’s body was found by firemens. They likewise discovered jerry canisters and gas storage tanks throughout the Douglasdale home.
