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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

City murder trial interrupted

Judge addresses allegation of covert courtroom photography

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 08/31/2010 1:00 AM

A Winnipeg murder trial got off to a rocky start Monday with allegations someone was secretly taking photographs of the accused killer in court.

Family members of the man on trial, Eric Cassan, told sheriff's officers they saw somebody using a cellphone to record images as he sat in the prisoner's box. They were unable to identify the person, who didn't return to court following the lunch recess.

Cassan's lawyer, Saul Simmonds, quickly notified sheriff's officers and Queen's Bench Justice Glenn Joyal, who warned of severe consequences if any further incidents were reported. Joyal also invited members of the gallery to step forward and identify the guilty party when family members of the victim, John Lane, were unable to do so.

"If anyone takes a picture in this courtroom ... you'll be out of here so fast your head will spin," said Joyal. "So think twice. I won't have a lot of patience or tolerance for this type of thing."

By late afternoon, the identity of the alleged photographer remained a mystery. The courtroom was packed with family members of the victim, including several wearing T-shirts that had the words "Thou Shalt Not Kill" printed on the front, along with "RIP John Lane" on the back.

Cassan, 24, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder for the March 2007 stabbing death of 25-year-old Lane during a gathering inside the victim's Hamilton Avenue apartment in Assiniboia.

Dr. Charles Littman testified Monday how the victim suffered several knife wounds to his neck, chest and abdomen which caused extensive and rapid blood loss. He documented 22 "sharp-force injuries" to Lane's body, including several that entered his chest cavity.

Allison Fogg told court how she ended up at Lane's apartment, along with several of their friends, following a night spent drinking at a local bar. There was talk in the club of a gathering later that night, and it just so happened to be inside Lane's suite.

Fogg said Cassan had also been at the bar that night and was acting "drunk and stupid" after sitting down at their table. He also appeared agitated, as if looking for a fight, she said.

Later that night, Cassan and a young woman showed up at Lane's home to party, apparently uninvited. It wasn't long before the two men began arguing. Fogg said she doesn't know what started the dispute, which quickly escalated into violence with both men throwing punches at each other.

Fogg said she tried to separate the pair while others yelled for Cassan to leave. Cassan appeared to have suffered a bloody nose during the initial scuffle.

"The next thing I saw was Erik running towards the door. John was on the ground. I thought he was dead," said Fogg.

She rushed to Lane's side and found him suffering extensive wounds and with a faint pulse.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 31, 2010 B2

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