Deadly party ambush linked to revenge, court hears

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This article was published 17/03/2010 (5711 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AN ambush inside a Winnipeg house party that left three people dead and three others seriously injured might have been motivated by revenge.

Howard Roulette told a jury Tuesday the two masked gunmen apparently had payback on their minds when they ran into the Alexander Avenue home in March 2008 and opened fire on a large crowd of people.

Roulette, 27, is the key Crown witness in the first-degree murder case against the two accused, including a 17-year-old boy whose youth trial began Monday. Colton Patchinose, 20, will stand trial later this year.

Roulette said Patchinose believed at least one of the people inside the home was responsible for an attack about 10 days earlier that left him suffering stab wounds. Roulette and Patchinose had been at the party earlier in the night but left, only to return a short time later.

"On the way to the house I asked them why they were doing this. (Patchinose) said those are the ones who stabbed me before," said Roulette. He said Patchinose previously told him "black people" stabbed him, but Roulette said he didn’t see anyone who fit that description at the party. None of the victims was black.

Scott Lavallee, 31, Jennifer Ward, 26, and Corey Keeper, 22, died after being struck at close range by at least eight of the 19 bullets that were fired that night.

Roulette was arrested but had his murder charges dropped once justice officials concluded he was only a witness. He told jurors Tuesday he was given no deals or promises in exchange for his testimony. Roulette’s credibility is being challenged by defence lawyers, but Roulette insisted Tuesday his story is truthful.

Roulette had met Patchinose weeks before the deadly shooting spree because their respective girlfriends were roommates. He said Patchinose told him to drive to a house on Pritchard Avenue once they initially left the party on Alexander. He was told to wait outside.

Patchinose emerged a few minutes later with the youth who is now on trial. Roulette said the two men pulled out handguns in the car, ordered him to go back to the party, and talked about wanting to "shoot the place up." Roulette claims he balked at their plans and said he didn’t want to be involved. He said Patchinose threatened to kill him if he didn’t comply.

Roulette said he was ordered to park, then watched as the two accused ran towards the home, guns drawn. They returned moments later to the car, telling him to speed away.

"Their adrenaline was rushing. The first thing they said was it was easy, that they just went in through the back door," said Roulette.

Ward’s boyfriend testified earlier Tuesday about hearing a loud "bang" while standing in the kitchen of the Alexander Avenue home. He described a scene of chaos as bullets started flying, including one that killed his girlfriend. He was also hit but survived.

Roulette said the two accused demanded he keep quiet.

Roulette eventually parted ways with the two men. Police showed up at his door two days later. They had learned Roulette had been at the party that night through his cousin, who was also there. Roulette initially denied knowing anything but quickly broke down and gave a statement.

www.mikeoncrime.com