Jury finds both suspects guilty in Calgary chef murder trial

A jury has come back with verdicts for two people accused of second degree murder in the death of a Calgary chef.

Anthony Dodgson and Tommie Holloway both pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Christophe Herblin on March 14, 2020.

On Sunday afternoon, a jury found Anthony Dodgson guilty of second-degree murder.

Tommie Holloway was found not guilty of second-degree murder, but the jury found him guilty of manslaughter.

Herblin was a long-time executive sous chef at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club and his new restaurant was just weeks away from opening at the time of his death.

The two men broke into the restaurant with plans to break through the wall into the adjacent cannabis shop but fled when a car drove by.

They returned later to continue their robbery attempt but were frustrated because the victim didn’t leave.

The prosecution argued Holloway smashed Herblin’s car windows in order to lure him back into the parking lot, at which point Dodgson attacked him and stabbed him nine times. Herblin staggered to a nearby gas station for help but died shortly after police officers came to his aid.

Dodgson was accused of stabbing Herblin nine times, but said he only remembers being involved in a scuffle.

Holloway testified there was no plan to attack Herblin and although he had smashed the chef’s car windows, he had left before the attack.

Dodgson’s lawyer had asked the jury to find her client only guilty of manslaughter because he was high from drug and alcohol use at the time and didn’t remember all the details of the attack except that he had been involved in a “tussle” with the victim.

Holoway’s attorney said his client had nothing to do with the attack and had only smashed Herblin’s car windows out of frustration, leaving before the attack began.

A star Crown witness testified that she had seen both suspects with knives earlier in the day and that they had both discussed attacking the victim to gain entry to the business moments before it occurred.

Justice Blair Nixon asked the jurors if they had any recommendation on a fit period of parole for Dodgson, who receives an automatic life sentence. Six recommended 10 years while the remaining six offered no recommendation.

The court ordered a Gladue report, which considers sentencing of an offender who has an Indigenous background, for both Dodgson and Holloway. Holloway’s lawyer also requested a pre-sentence report for his client.

A date for a sentencing hearing is scheduled to be set April 22.

Justice Nixon thanked the jury members for their service in the trial which was scheduled for three weeks but lasted six.

“By your participation in this case you have performed and essential service in the administration of justice,” Nixon said.

“On behalf of myself and indeed all Canadians I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for your dedication to this matter.”

–with files from Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press