It was a crime so random, said the Crown, that it could have happened to anyone.
Now, a little over four years later, the final co-accused in the death of 34-year-old Lorry Santos has entered the final phase his first-degree murder trial.
READ MORE: Trial begins for man accused in the killing of Saskatoon mother Lorry Santos
Described during the trial as a “dangerous character” with a violent temper and the alleged mastermind behind the fatal shooting, the defence told court it would call on any evidence, which means Joshua Petrin would not take the stand in his own defence.
Outside the Saskatoon courthouse, Petrin’s lawyer Brian Pfefferle said, after having a chance to examine the Crown’s case fully, it was decided that his client would not testify at his own trial.
Petrin was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Santos on Sept. 12, 2012, along with one count of conspiracy to commit murder.
“We feel comfortable with the evidence before the court and we’ll be asking the court to draw certain conclusions from the evidence that was presented by the Crown and didn’t feel it was a case where the accused need to testify,” Pfefferle explained.
For seven days, court heard from nearly two dozen Crown witnesses. It will need to prove that, when Santos was gunned down in her home, Petrin was party to the crime.
READ MORE: Josh Petrin’s ex-girlfriend testifies at 1st-degree murder trial: ‘I’m scared of him’
Not only that, but that four children were left without a mother after a series of miscommunications led gang members to the wrong home with the intention of killing a man known as “T.J.” who left the criminal organization without asking.
“Crown position is that would have never had happened had Mr. Petrin, in our respectful view, directed others to go do that,” Senior Crown Prosecutor Matthew Miazga said.
During the trial, witness after witness identified Petrin as the boss of the White Boy Posse, an Alberta street gang witnesses say you didn’t leave unless it was in the body bag.
“In this case, because of the nature of the individuals involved, the association with a criminal organization, that became the challenge for the Crown to get witnesses to attend and freely testify when many of them may have concerns for their safety,” Miazga said.
READ MORE: Former gang member considered ‘vital witness’ testifies at Joshua Petrin trial
One witness not called by either the Crown or Petrin’s lawyer was Randy O’Hagan, one of the shooters who was convicted of the crime in 2014 and continues to serve a life sentence for his role in Santos’ death.
“We didn’t think that Mr. O’Hagan was going to assist the defence case at this stage,” Pfefferle said.
The Crown said it considered O’Hagan a witness unlikely to cooperate with the process or tell the truth on the stand.
Closing arguments in the case are now scheduled for Oct. 12, exactly four years and one month after Santos’ death.
When court was adjourned for the day, Petrin stood up, did up his suit jacket and reached through the enclosed prisoner’s box to shake his lawyer’s hand.
He smiled and said the word “awesome” to his attorney.
Petrin will return to court ahead of arguments.
He is expected to enter a plea after allegedly trying to escape from the Saskatoon Correctional Centre in August.
Two new charges were laid as a result of the incident, including possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and escaping lawful custody.
He also faces unrelated murder charges in Alberta.