Colin
A 19-year-old Sundre McDonald’s male employee was killed by a neck wound struck by a fellow employee with a 17-inch machete early on the morning on July 4, 2022, the accused’s Court of King’s Bench trial in Calgary heard Monday.
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Solaimane Elbettah, facing the camera, and Josh Burns in the Sundre McDonald’s restaurant prior to Burns’ death on July 4.Court exhibit
Solaimane Elbettah faces a first degree murder charge in the death of Josh Burns, 19.
Justice Glen Poelman is presiding over the judge-alone trial, which is scheduled to run until at least March 1.
At the start of proceedings Monday, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of first degree murder.
His lawyer, Pawel Milczarek, told Justice Poelman that he will be making a not criminally responsible (NCR) defence.
In an agreed statement of facts read into court, Crown prosecutor Vince Pingitore said the accused brought the weapon into the restaurant and used it to kill Burns.
The two men were the only people working at the restaurant at the time, with only the drive-thru open.
“It is not in dispute that the accused committed the act of killing (Burns) using a machete and causing a large, deep wound to his neck, and thereby causing his death,” said Pingitore.
The accused was 27 years old at the time of the killing and employed as a manager at the restaurant. Burns, a Sundre resident, started work at local McDonald’s on June 11, 2022. He graduated from Innisfail High School in 2021.
On the night of the killing, the accused left the restaurant at about 11:47 p.m. and went to his room at a nearby motel, Pingitore said.
