Watch above: A former drug dealer turned police informant is testifying this week at the Isho Hana murder trial. Wendy Winiewski has the latest.
SASKATOON – Noel Harder took the stand as the trial of his former friends, who are accused of murdering Isho Hana, resumed Monday at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon. Harder has a criminal record and was convicted of drug trafficking in 2004.
He has since become a police informant helping officers during “Project Forseti,” the major drug raid that took place in Saskatchewan and Alberta in mid-January.
Now, Harder, who is in witness protection, is testifying how his friend’s were involved in the shooting death of Isho Hana, a 34-year-old father of two and known drug trafficker, who was gunned down on Preston Avenue in April 2004.
Harder told court that in 2004 he himself was a drug dealer and his friend, Jonathon Dombowsky, set him up with Long Nam Luu who supplied Harder with one kilogram of cocaine every two weeks for $35,000.
Dombowsky and Luu are charged with first-degree murder of Hana along with Kennith Tingle.
According to Harder, things had been escalating between two groups in a drug turf war. Leading up to the killing, Harder testified his friend Dombowsky had been badly beaten and doused with bleach by Hana’s guys and Luu’s girlfriend had been shot in the leg.
Harder testified it was known among their group that Luu had hired a hit for $25,000 and said Hana would be “taken care of.”
READ MORE: New informant causes delay in high profile Saskatoon murder trial
The trial is still in a voir dire, as the judge determines what information is admissible.
Court adjourned early Monday when the Crown said it had obtained some new information that needed to be processed. Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday.
The 2004 murder went unsolved until 2012 when Neil Yakimchuk told undercover officers about his involvement and the involvement of the three others accused. Yakimchuk has been convicted and is serving a life sentence.
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