Killed by gunshot after an argument in front of numerous witnesses: an altercation that occurred in 2020 near a hair salon reportedly ended in a murder filmed by a surveillance camera. The trial of Selwin Georges Chin, a man accused of the premeditated murder of Mark Jackson, opened Wednesday in Montreal.
An argument between Mark Jackson, a 40-year-old man, and the alleged murderer allegedly broke out in front of the Improved Kuts barbershop in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, in February 2020. It all ended violently two hours later: suspect with a gun shoots Mr. Jackson at point-blank range, according to the Crown’s account.
The accused and the victim are regulars at this intersection, a popular meeting place, explained in his opening statement Crown prosecutor M.e Philippe Vallières Rolland. Around 7 p.m., Chin appeared agitated and angry, he continued. Mark Jackson comes out of the barbershop and starts fighting. “Several people tried to calm them down. Selwin Georges Chin left the scene, visibly shaken. »
He returned armed two hours later, summarized the Crown. The suspect first hid his pistol behind his back. He then points it at the victim, according to the suit. A projectile hits him straight in the heart. Mr. Jackson collapses through the open door of the barbershop, in full view of people trying to help him.
The accused allegedly fled after the incident. “The weapon was never found,” M told the jurye Vallières Rolland. Chin was arrested three days later in connection with this case.
A grocery store’s surveillance camera filmed the horrific scene. The 20-minute video footage was shown to the jury. We see Mark Jackson coming out of the men’s barbershop and attacking an individual. The latter, dressed in a black coat, is also present later in the video sequence. He is seen holding a gun behind his back, approaching the victim and shooting in his direction.
The suspect’s cell phone was seized shortly after his arrest, Ms.e Vallières Rolland. The device contains important elements, he added.
Witnesses to the murder and police officers will present their version of the facts to the jury during the trial which is expected to last four weeks. Me Alan Guttman defends the accused, while Me Philippe Vallières Rolland and Me Geneviève Bélanger represents the public prosecutor.
The trial continues all day before Judge Daniel Royer.