Regina man's death in 2020 was unintended result of planned confrontation, Crown lawyers argue
CBC
Crown prosecutors are trying to portray the August 2020 death of Mathew Bossenberry in Regina as an unintended result of a premeditated confrontation.
Wednesday marked Day 2 of the trial for Joshua Larose, 42, who is accused of second-degree murder in connection with Bossenberry's death. He has pleaded not guilty.
Wednesday's proceedings in the Court of King's Bench in Regina began with the Crown counsel's opening statement. David Bélanger, one of the Crown lawyers, told the jury that they aim to prove that Larose did not kill Bossenberry in self-defence after he showed up at a Regina home on Aug. 24, 2020.
Larose had previously had a conflict with a person who lived in the home, Bélanger told the jury Wednesday. Details about that person's identify cannot be revealed due to a publication ban.
While Larose was later serving time in the Regina Remand Centre for unrelated charges, he decided that he would get back at the person living in the home, Bélanger said.
After his release, Larose had someone drive him to the home. He walked around to the back and asked to come in, saying he wanted to apologize, Bélanger said.
He was led into the living room. Bossenberry and another person had been there visiting for about an hour, the lawyer said, and were sitting with the resident Larose had come to confront when he arrived.
Larose then revealed a can of bear mace, Bélanger said, and said something along the lines of, "I hope you'll like this pepper spray."
Bossenberry was hit with the spray, Bélanger said, but fought back. He eventually found an old two-by-four lying in a backroom, but Larose pulled out a knife, court was told.
The Crown called several members of the Regina Police Service and a paramedic to testify Wednesday.
Const. Zach White was dispatched after two 911 calls were made about an injured man at the residence. The Crown played one of the recordings in court Wednesday.
The caller told the operator that her eyes were burning and that she could not go back inside because the place was sprayed with bear mace.
Moubarak Bokhit Ali's memories of his home country of Sudan are punctuated by flashes of violence.
The man behind the Moose Jaw health centre that has claimed “a 100 per cent success rate in stopping the progression and in restoring function of people with ALS” says a recent CBC story about his company is evidence that he is seen as “a direct threat to the ALS drug industry.”
The Neighbour to Neighbour Centre’s trans and non-binary grocery program, which offers free food and household products to community members once a month, began with a simple question: how do we get free menstrual products to trans people without being awkward?
Bill Van Vugt is living a life that's unlike most other people his age, and one which has seen him turn a longtime hobby into championship gold.
The provincial government is taking steps toward improving Alberta's lucrative sand and gravel industry.
As medical labs across Ontario remain understaffed, one medical association is calling on the province to expand labs’ capacity for student placements by funding positions to train them.
The year wrapping up means it's getting closer to tax season, and the federal Community Volunteer Income Tax Program will once again be offering free filing services for Islanders with modest incomes.
It's not so easy to remove a politician from office between elections in Canada.
Natasha Martin-Mitchell says creating art gives her a sense of calmness that acts as a medicine during stressful times.
Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves in his first game back from injury to power the Jets to a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday that snapped Winnipeg's three-game losing skid.
Alberta’s auditor general Doug Wylie says his office's budget will be $1.5 million short next fiscal year.
British Columbia has filed a civil claim against e-cigarette giant Juul Labs, alleging the company developed highly addictive nicotine products and fuelled youth nicotine addiction with “deceptive marketing practices.”
There's been positive reaction in Ottawa to news that the nation's capital could be home to Canada’s first high-speed rail line by the end of the decade.