TORONTO - DNA evidence and an intercepted conversation implicate two gunmen in the brazen Boxing Day gunfight on Yonge St. that killed Jane Creba, a prosecutor alleged yesterday.
In his opening statement to the jury, Crown attorney Maurice Gillezeau said alleged gunmen Louis Raphael Woodcock and Tyshaun Clive Barnett were members of a larger group, including convicted murderer Jorrell Simpson Rowe, that confronted Jeremiah Valentine, 27, and a friend inside the Foot Locker store on Dec. 26, 2005.
DNA evidence links Woodcock to a Ruger handgun — the only one recovered — and a wiretapped conversation ties Barnett to another of the minimum three firearms used in the brief shootout that claimed the life of the 15-year-old Creba, Gillezeau said.
Simpson Rowe, now 22, who awas found guilty of second-degree murder in 2008 and is now serving a life sentence, was arrested at Castle Frank subway station within 30 minutes of the shooting and had possession of the 9 mm Ruger handgun. The empty gun, which had DNA belonging to Woodcock, left seven shell casings at the scene.
Woodcock and Barnett, both now 22, have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the slaying of Creba, the attempted murder of Milan Mijatovic and aggravated assault for wounding three others on the street.
Reignited
The confrontation inside the Foot Locker store between the Woodcock group and Valentine and his pal reignited outside the shop when “Valentine came out of the store, prepared for trouble as he had a gun in his hand,” Gillezeau said.
“What happened next was a gunfight broke out with Valentine shooting at Woodcock, and Barnett shooting at Valentine,” Gillezeau said.
“Jane Creba, who was walking to the Pizza Pizza shop next door to use the facilities, was caught in the crossfire and was shot dead. Others were wounded including Dorrian Wallace, who is Barnett’s cousin and was assisted by another cousin, Andrew Smith, who took him to the hospital.”
Mijatovic was wounded in the leg and fled to the Red Lobster store at Bay and Dundas before he needed medical attention.”
In wiretapped conversations, which were guarded, Barnett spoke of a 25 mm handgun that fired once before jamming. He added that he disposed of the firearm, Gillezeau said.
A single 25 mm bullet was found at the crime scene.
In December, Valentine, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was automatically sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 12 years. Valentine admitted he fired the .357 Magnum bullet that likely killed Creba, but “that determination cannot be made with certainty,” Gillezeau said.
Valentine’s .357 was never recovered.
The trial continues today.
sam.pazzano@sunmedia.ca
