Accused in Moncton murder trial testifies he shot teen in self-defence
CBC
Riley Phillips testified Thursday that he shot Joedin Leger in self-defence after the 18-year-old shot him first and appeared to be reaching for another gun.
"I thought he was going to kill me," Phillips testified, saying he's not certain how many times he fired a .38 calibre revolver he was carrying at Leger.
Phillips, 20, is on trial in Moncton on a charge of second-degree murder. It's alleged he killed Leger on April 25, 2022.
Two Crown witnesses testified Phillips was asked to join five others who planned to rob Leger and his girlfriend at their north-end Moncton home. However, Phillips offered a different version of what led him to Logan Lane that morning.
Phillips was the first witness called by his defence lawyer, Brian Munro.
Phillips testified he had spoken to his cousin, Hunter England, on April 24, 2022, about a dispute England was having with Leger. Early the next morning, Phillips testified he awoke to Hayden Leblanc knocking on his bedroom window at his grandparents house on Ryan Street in Moncton where he lived.
"He asked me if I wanted to go with them to confront Joedin over smashing out Hunter's mom's window and maybe get some money back for it," Phillips testified.
Phillips said he initially didn't want to go but the group returned later and he went with them.
Phillips said Hunter England drove the group which included Leblanc, a 17-year-old who cannot be named, Hunter's brother Jerek England, and Nicholas McAvoy. They parked near Logan Lane and that someone handed him the revolver after stepping out of the car.
Phillips testified he couldn't recall any discussion in the car while en route to Leger's home.
"I never intended to shoot. I went there to talk to him," Phillips testified when his lawyer about his intentions that morning.
Phillips said he, Leblanc, and the 17-year-old and McAvoy walked up to Leger's duplex where Phillips knocked on the front door.
He said he was wearing a helmet so Leger wouldn't see his face, fearing Leger might retaliate by smashing windows at his grandparents' home, but later said the visor was up.
"I shouldn't have worn the helmet," he said. "It was stupid."
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