A B.C. Supreme Court murder case went behind closed doors for several hours Monday and Tuesday as special prosecutor David Butcher prepared to call a final witness in the case.
Babak Najafi-Chaghabouri, of North Vancouver and a second man, Charles Anthony Leslie, are both on trial before B.C. Supreme Court justice Barry Davies for the murder of Ronak "Ronny" Wagad in February 2009.
Wagad, whose remains were discovered in the bush near Chilliwack on July 8 that year, was hacked to death with a hatchet.
During the trial, which is taking place without a jury, Travis Winterlik, who was with Leslie and Najafi-Chaghabouri on the night Wagad died, described how the three men ambushed Wagad, shoved him in the trunk of a car and drove him out to Chilliwack, where he was killed. But Winterlik told the judge he didn't see who actually killed Wagad.
Ali Reza Alamdari, a former roommate of Najafi-Chaghabouri in North Vancouver, testified that Najafi-Chaghabouri told him he killed Wagad.
A final Crown witness described as important to the case was supposed to testify starting Monday. But the witness, whose identity is protected by publication ban, didn't show up. Instead lawyers discussed the case with the judge in a closed-door hearing.
The witness also didn't show up Tuesday but was eventually contacted by police. In court, sheriffs set up a screen for the person to testify behind.
But after another closed-door session, lawyers said no witnesses would appear until Wednesday.
Davies did not appear in court to give reasons for the closed-door sessions and no explanation was given about the nature of the discussion.
The witness had not yet appeared in court as of Wednesday morning.
The in-camera discussions this week followed other closed-door hearings earlier this month and lengthy pre-trial sessions held behind closed doors before the case started. Such "voir dire" discussions - held to determine what evidence is admissible in a trial - are not usually closed to the public, although in the case of a jury trial, they cannot be reported.
The criminal justice branch has also not given an explanation for the appointment of special prosecutor David Butcher to the case. Most instances where special prosecutors are appointed involve someone from the criminal justice system, politics, or the possibility there could be a perception of bias.
The trial continues in B.C. Supreme Court.
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