Rifle was fired at close range, expert tells court

RCMP firearms specialist says shot likely ‘perpendicular’ instead of on an angle

DNA evidence from the rifle seized following the shooting death of Dylan Phillips was presented at the first-degree murder trial of Shaylin Sutherland-kayseas on Wednesday afternoon in Saskatoon.

Meagan Clark, who works at an RCMP forensics lab, gave expert testimony on several swabs taken from the sawed-off firearm. She found DNA from the trigger and trigger guard matching Phillips, and a co-accused who has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Clark told court there was also a trace amount of DNA from an unknown third person.

Clark was unable to say with any certainty which of the three people would have been last to touch the trigger.

There was also DNA evidence connected to other items seized in the investigation.

Clark said both Sutherland-kayseas and a woman she is convicted of kidnapping were possible contributors to DNA on bloodied duct tape. A pair of bloodstained jeans had DNA matches with both Phillips and Sutherland-kayseas.

On the first day of the trial Monday, the kidnapping victim testified Sutherland-kayseas told her about “bodying” someone, slang for killing.

Earlier Wednesday, the trial heard police seized two vehicles Sutherland-kayseas was seen in five days after the shooting, a silver Chevrolet Impala and a red Dodge Dakota truck.

Earlier in the trial a police officer told court a wad of grey duct tape with red staining believed to be blood, and a blood-stained pair of jeans were among the items found in the trunk of the Impala.

Phillips’ father, Dale Phillips, had testified he saw assailants drive away in a car that was either white or silver. He explained he had trouble telling because of the tint of the street light.

Also Wednesday, an RCMP firearms expert Gregory Williams told court the rifle would have been fired at close range, no more than 30 centimetres, but the barrel was likely not in direct contact with Phillips.

And although he did not have enough evidence to support a strong conclusion, he said the shot was probably fired “perpendicular” instead of on an angle.

Saskatoon police Sgt. Kyla Hicks told court she found on Sutherland-kayseas’ Facebook page the words “Shaylin Terror Squadian Sutherland-kayseas,” in a posting the day before Phillips was fatally shot.

Court also heard police obtained phone call recordings from the Pine Grove Correctional Centre, where Sutherland-kayseas was held while awaiting trial.

The trial continues Thursday.