Friends defend accused killer
Nicholas Rasberry worked as a mechanical engineer, tended bar at his uncle’s nightclub and moved into a two-storey home in southeast Calgary with his wife and their pets.
There was nothing concerning about him to those who knew him — until he was charged with seconddegree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a man who lived on the same street.
Police said Rasberry and Harvey “Craig” Kelloway, a 31-year-old middle-school science teacher, had met for the first time just hours before Kelloway was killed Saturday night at Rasberry’s home.
News of the charges shocked a former colleague of Rasberry.
“He’s incredibly smart, really good to work with, a really awesome guy,” said one man, who last worked with Rasberry several years ago did not want his name published.
“There’s two sides to every story and I know Nick. That’s not Nick. There’s more that needs to be understood, too. This guy is the type of guy if you needed a hand with anything, he’d be there.”
Officers and paramedics were called to a residence in the 100 block of Auburn Springs Close S.E. in Auburn Bay before 11:30 p.m. after someone called 911 from the home.
Kelloway was found with critical stab wounds but could not be saved.
Police said the accused man had gone to the victim’s house earlier in the day to introduce himself. After they met, the two men hung out throughout the day with other people.
They ended up at Rasberry’s home where an altercation broke out and Kelloway was stabbed.
Alcohol was involved. Police are trying to determine a motive.
Neighbours were shocked to see the incident unfold in their community, and to learn of the charges. They said the home had no hint of trouble and called the owner nice, clean cut and professional looking.
Tyler, who asked that his last name not be printed, said the man seemed nice and had even introduced his dogs to Tyler’s kids.
“There was no signs that he was a bad guy. He probably got caught up in the heat of the moment.
“That’s the shocking thing. I don’t think he had it in him. Maybe I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt now. Wrong place, wrong time.
“He didn’t seem like a bad guy by any means.”
Sylvia Areny, who lives around the corner, said it was the first real sunny weekend and residents were just coming out of hibernation.
“Garage doors were open and people were meeting each other,” Areny said.
She said the crime is sad more than anything.
“It doesn’t make me feel any less safe,” she said. “It’s an isolated incident.”
Rasberry, who had no criminal his- tory, is expected to appear in court Wednesday.
While Rasberry’s family was reluctant to speak about the 30-yearold, an online bio on a personalized site about his wedding provided a glimpse into his life.
The bio indicated Rasberry stud- ied mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary.
While in school, he worked as a bartender at the recently shuttered Back Alley Nightclub owned by his uncle, Doug Rasberry, who declined to comment when reached by the Herald on Tuesday.
It was at the Back Alley where Rasberry met his wife, whom he married in Mexico two years ago, according to the website.
The pair briefly spent time in Qatar, where Rasberry was overseeing a project for Enersul, a Calgary sulphur company.
A company spokeswoman declined to comment when reached by phone.
According to a bio on the Enersul website, Rasberry has been with the company for six years, currently working as the manager of technical sales. His work has taken him to Qatar, Taiwan and Germany.
Meanwhile, a Facebook memorial page has been created for Kelloway, with condolence messages from students flooding the wall.
Many credited Kelloway for being a positive role model who never gave up on his students and made learning fun.
His family in Nova Scotia is making funeral arrangements.