Crown closes its case in Petrin murder trial

The Crown wrapped up its case in the first-degree murder trial of Joshua Petrin on Tuesday.

Petrin is accused of ordering the death of T.J. Cromartie. The Crown  claims this alleged order led to the death of 34-year-old mother Lorry Santos when the gunmen tasked with killing Cromartie went to the wrong address.

Earlier in the trial, witnesses testified Petrin was a high-ranking member of the White Boy Posse street gang. Petrin allegedly wanted Cromartie dead for fleeing the gang.

Court first heard from John Marshall, an RCMP ballistics expert.

Marshall told court that in his view, two guns recovered by police in the wake of Santos’ 2012 death were the ones used in the shooting.

The Crown’s final witness can’t be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban.

The witness told court he was not a full member of the White Boy Posse gang, describing himself as an affiliate. He said he sold cocaine in Inuvik, Lloydminster and Saskatoon and testified that Petrin was his boss.

He said Petrin came to Saskatoon suddenly a few days before Santos was shot.

The witness said this was highly unusual, as normally there would have been more notice of such a visit. He said Petrin arrived in a silver Acura with tinted windows and custom rims.

Others have testified Petrin lent this vehicle to the gunmen who killed Santos.

The witness said he was frequently told to stay inside while Petrin and the two gunmen had whispered conversations outside.

The witness said he never knew of a plan to kill Cromartie. He said the drug business was very secretive and it wasn’t uncommon for low-level operatives not to know everything that was going on.

The witness said he noticed changes in the behaviour of the two men who were later found to have shot Santos. He said that while he didn’t know what had happened, he noticed the two were quiet and withdrawn.

He said one of the shooters eventually told him broadly what had happened, at first showing no remorse but eventually slipping into heavy drug use and seeming regretful.

Under questions from Petrin’s lawyer, the witness said he initially asked police for money to testify when he was being interrogated in November 2012.

He said he ultimately never got a payout, but did get a letter from police to help him with a drug charge.

Petrin’s trial resumes Wednesday, with defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle expected to begin presenting his case.