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Calgary homicide victim Danillo Canales Glenn was pepper sprayed before he was fatally stabbed on an outdoor basketball court in the city’s southeast community of Copperfield, the trial of one of his alleged murderers was told Tuesday.
In her opening address in the trial of a youth charged in his killing, Crown prosecutor Vicki Faulkner said the teen and his older brother attacked Canales Glenn without warning as he and two buddies shot baskets mere feet from where a group of young children played.
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And Faulkner said despite efforts at CPR by one of the victim’s friends, Canales Glenn succumbed to his injuries.
The accused, who can’t be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act in connection with the deadly attack on a warm, late summer’s evening last Sept. 5, is charged with second-degree murder.
His brother, who also can’t be named to protect the accused’s identity, faces a similar charge as an adult and is currently scheduled to have final submissions in his preliminary inquiry next month.
Faulkner told Justice Eleanor Funk that Canales Glenn had gone to the outdoor court at the Copperfield/Mahogany Community Centre to shoot some baskets when they noticed two males with hoodies covering their heads watching the younger children playing from outside the enclosed area.
When Canales Glenn asked them what they were looking at the two males attacked, Faulkner said.
“The two males jumped over the boards and came at Danillo and his friends,” she said.
“The one with the can of pepper spray leveled the pepper spray at Danillo’s face and sprayed his face,” the prosecutor said.
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“Danillo, who had just been sprayed in the face was at the mercy of the two.”
One of the males produced a knife from a fanny pack and the victim was repeatedly stabbed, Faulkner said.
He was also physically beaten in the attack, she told Funk.
Faulkner said a crucial piece of evidence is a black Nike shoe left at the scene as the assailants fled.
She said the accused’s DNA was found on three locations on the footwear.
Before Faulkner’s opening, the accused was arrainged on the murder charge.
“Not guilty, madame justice,” defence counsel Alain Hepner said on his client’s behalf.
“Do you confirm that, sir?” Funk asked the teen directly.
“Yes,” said the accused, clad in a dark grey suit and a black dress shirt.
Faulkner had provided media with notice last week she would be seeking a publication ban on all the evidence in the case since the brother could eventually face trial before a Court of King’s Bench jury.
But she told Funk that she was no longer pursuing that application.
Faulkner did note there is a mandatory publication ban on the identities of witnesses under 18, including three she will call who are less than 14 years old.
The trial is set for nine days.
The accused remains in custody pending the outcome of the case.
X: @KMartinCourts
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