Fortis Alberta worker Matthew Andres described for Calgary jurors Tuesday the harrowing incident two summers ago which saw him ambushed and shot before a second man was fatally wounded.
Testimony in Court
Taking the witness stand before a Calgary Court of King's Bench jury, Andres told Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou he was out doing surveying work when he was approached after a truck with a flat tire pulled up.
“I thought they were going to come over and ask for some sort of assistance,” Andres said of the Aug. 6 incident just east of Calgary at the intersection of Township Road 250 and Range Road 282.
“I looked up and I saw someone come up and pull a facemask over their face so I didn't see any face at that point.”
Without warning the individual shot him in the right upper forearm, he said.
“The next thing that happened was I felt the shot go through my arm,” Andres testified.
He said the gunman, who was toting a silver pistol, had exited the passenger side of a white Dodge Ram that had pulled up at the intersection.
“After I felt the shot I turned to look at the individual and yes he did (have a weapon),” the witness said. “They were pointing it at my head.”
Andres said the gunman told him “keys” and he indicated they were in his still running work truck.
Andres said he got on the ground on his stomach as the assailant twice walked away before returning.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said.
At a certain point he could tell the gunman was moving away and he got up to run.
He managed to get to a ditch some distance away and looked back to see that his truck had been moved, but was now nose down in a ditch.
“Right behind it was the white Dodge that was pretty much engulfed in flames.”
Andres looked for approaching vehicles to seek help and soon after a white GMC pickup came up and slowed down.
“As soon as they slowed down … I saw two figures rush out towards the vehicle and heard shots. Three or four shots.”
Elijah Blake Strawberry and Arthur Wayne Penner face charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder and two counts of armed robbery in connection with the incident.
Andres said after he heard the shots he looked back towards the scene and saw a figure laying on the road and the GMC pickup fleeing the scene northbound.
It was then he called 911, a recording played for jurors in court.
The trial is set for four weeks.
