Police dog, handler followed tracks to home where suspect was arrested, court told

Crown alleges accused shot victim as either part of robbery or to settle debt

The Regina jury hearing the case against a 35-year-old man accused in a 2016 shooting death listened Tuesday to a police officer who successfully tracked one of the suspects.

Elwin Michael Goodpipe is accused of manslaughter and robbery in connection with a March 29, 2016 shooting that claimed the life of 56-year-old Andre Joseph Aubertin.

Before launching his case Monday, Crown prosecutor Mitchell Miller provided a Regina Court of Queen’s Bench jury with an outline of his case, telling jurors he expects they will hear testimony Goodpipe took part in a plan to rob Aubertin, either as a drug ripoff or to settle a drug debt.

Miller told jurors Aubertin was shot in the chest when a loaded shotgun went off in Goodpipe’s co-accused’s hands. Aubertin died shortly afterward of his injuries.

So far, court has heard from members of the Regina Police Service who responded to a weapons call at a house on the 1000 block of Princess Street at about 11 a.m. Officers have testified about the arrest of Goodpipe’s co-accused Jerid Cole Azure, the location of evidence including footprints and shotgun shells, and searches conducted.

On Tuesday, the jury heard from several more police witnesses, including Sgt. Jason Gunderson who was with the city police’s Canine Unit at the time.

Gunderson told the court he, along with his police service dog Juno, were in charge of the tracking that ultimately led to Azure at a house on the 900 block of Argyle Street.

Gunderson testified he initially went to an alley behind a house that was across the street from the Princess Street residence where Aubertin was shot. In the alley, officers had found footprints believed to have been made by the suspects, and Gunderson said he and Juno started their tracking from that location.

He said conditions that day were “excellent for tracking,” and that Juno quickly located a scent. While other officers followed along, Gunderson and Juno crossed through yards and down an alley until Juno led them to the back door of a residence at 915 Argyle St.

Confident the subject of the search was inside, Gunderson stayed in the backyard as other officers knocked on the front door. Gunderson said he saw the back door slowly open and a male — later identified as Azure — emerge.

Another officer on the scene arrested Azure at that point.

Const. Anthony Rodier testified he searched the track path and found a 12-gauge shotgun shell.

The trial continues Wednesday.