SASKATOON – Police have charged two men from Young, Saskatchewan with first-degree murder in relation to Saskatoon’s second murder of 2013.
On Thursday night, officers checked a parked truck missing a wheel on Circle Drive just south of 11th Street West.
Alexander Holdner, also known as “A.J.,” was found dead inside the truck. An autopsy was carried out and police confirmed Holdner’s death was a homicide and he died as a result of blunt force trauma.
Police said the 25-year-old victim had recently moved to Saskatoon from Young, Saskatchewan.
Officers arrested 19-year-old Kyle Scott and 18-year-old Robert McCamon on Sunday night in the area of Preston Crossing.
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It’s understood Holdner went to the same school as Scott.
The accused teenagers appeared in the Saskatoon provincial court Monday afternoon and showed little emotion when asked if they understood the charge.
Vanessa Hansford is a good friend of Holdner’s. She attended court see the men accused of taking her friend’s life.
“I just wanted to see who it was, I had a gut feeling and I just had to confirm it for myself,” she said.
Hansford says her friend will be missed.
“He was a great guy, very funny, always had jokes. He was very helpful and he trusted everybody he was a really good guy,” she said.
Hansford says the small knit community with just over 230 people is shocked by what’s occurred.
“Heartbreaking, absolutely, losing somebody, it’s so close to home you could never picture something like that,” she said.
“We’re a pretty close town I guess, because we’re so small, so just take it day by day,” she added.
The accused men were remanded in custody and are due back in court on July 31st.
A memorial service will be held for Holdner on Wednesday at the Young Community Centre.
For anyone wanting to show their support the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
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