Closing arguments in Vancouver murder trial focus on revenge plots for gangster Jonathan Bacon’s execution

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Closing arguments are underway in a Vancouver gang-related murder trial that began before a jury in June last year and was expected to last about six months but has been hit by several delays.

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Two men, Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil and Larry Ronald Amero, have been on trial at the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver since June 29, 2021.

Alkhalil pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of Sandip Duhre on January 17, 2012, at the Sheraton Wall Center.

Amero has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder Duhre. Alkhalil and Amero have also pleaded not guilty to conspiring with others to murder Sukh Dhak between August 6, 2011 and August 8, 2012.

Closing the filings that began Tuesday and are being presided over by Judge Miriam Maisonville, the Crown told the jury that the main evidence as to the motive for the crimes was the high-profile shooting in Kelowna on August 14, 2011 that claimed the life of gangster Jonathan. Bacon.

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It was heard at trial that Bacon was one of five people, including Amero, who were in a Porsche Cayenne that was sprayed with bullets outside the Delta Grande Hotel in Kelowna. Amero, the driver, was seriously injured in the shooting.

The Crown had previously said that the two defendants were members of a group called the Wolfpack that was involved in a rivalry with Duhre and Dhak and that the crimes they committed were in retaliation for Bacon’s murder.

In filings Tuesday, the Crown said the case was “largely about identification” and that CCTV video from the Wall Center would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Alkhalil was one of the people in that video.

The prosecution said one of the critical questions in the Alkhalil murder charge was whether Alkhalil was a party to the murder, since he obviously did not shoot Duhre.

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Alkhalil aided the shooter, or abetted the shooter, or both, depending on the Crown.

Corona’s theory, which they said would be proven with the help of video in some detail, is that Alkhalil aided the shooter by acting as an observer. Duhre died after being shot multiple times in the main execution style.

“The shooter had the skill and composure to walk directly towards Mr. Duhre in a public place, in a busy public restaurant, in full view of other people, shot Mr. Duhre multiple times and escaped, without being immediately apprehended. . Crown counsel Mark Sheardown told the jury Wednesday.

The encrypted BlackBerry messages seized by police were strong evidence of a plot to assassinate Duhre and assassinate Dhak, the Crown said, telling the jury that even if they were not satisfied that Alkhalil sent incriminating messages on the devices, Alkhalil could still be found guilty of murder. as an aide based on the video and surrounding evidence only.

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The Crown’s theory of complicity is that Duhre’s murder was a paid hit and Alkhalil was involved in paying for the hit.

Regarding the Duhre murder conspiracy charge involving Amero, the Crown said that a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit an indictable crime and that Amero conspired with others to murder Duhre.

Encrypted messages involving Amero are the main body of evidence for that charge, the Crown added, which it said will show Amero was involved in paying for the hit.

The messages will also be the main body of evidence proving Dhak’s murder conspiracy charge against Alkhalil and Amero, the Crown said.

The defense is expected to begin its final presentations on Friday or Monday.

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