Man committed murder amid souring relationship in contraband cigarette business, jury rules | CBC News
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A Calgary man who shot two people — one fatally — amid a dispute with his contraband cigarette-selling partner-in-crime has been found guilty of both second-degree murder and attempted murder.
Tyler Redden, 29, shot Daniel Spagnolo, who survived, and Graeme McColm, who died, on May 18, 2023.
Jurors returned the verdicts on Wednesday, rejecting the self-defence argument put forward by Redden’s legal team of Alain Hepner and Jared Craig.
Justice David Labrenz will hear sentencing arguments from defence and prosecutor Carla MacPhail at a later date.
Over the course of the four-week trial, jurors heard that Redden was selling illegal cigarettes for Spagnolo, but that in the weeks leading up to the shooting, their relationship soured.
Gun bought day of murder
Redden told the court that he wasn’t being properly paid by Spagnolo and wanted out.
Earlier in the trial, Redden testified that Spagnolo had threatened to shoot him, his daughter or his girlfriend.
On May 18, 2023, Redden bought a gun. He told jurors he feared for his life and the safety of his family.
That day, the two were supposed to meet at Spagnolo’s parents’ home so that Redden could return some cigarettes and a cellphone.
Truck stop shooting
But before that could happen, the two victims came across Redden, who had been following his father home in his vehicle.
The group ended up in the parking lot of the Flying J truck stop, where Redden said Spagnolo confronted his father.
Redden testified that Spagnolo and McColm began beating his father, kicking him in the head.
Redden told the court that he first aimed the gun at McColm’s legs but was scared he would hit his father, who was on the ground, so he said he raised the weapon and shot McColm in the shoulder.
‘This is not self-defence’
He then shot at Spagnolo.
In her closing arguments, MacPhail pointed out that Redden was the only one who brought a gun to the confrontation. She also said the evidence showed McColm was attempting to flee when he was shot in the back.
“This is not self-defence,” said MacPhail. “This is the intentional killing of an unarmed man and an attempt to kill another.”
McColm was able to get into his vehicle and drove a short distance before he crashed. He was found dead inside his car.
Spagnolo survived three gunshot wounds.