Man guilty of 7 charges, including murder, in ‘ evil act’
Brett Wiese’s family says their son lost his life to violent and evil hands, and not even a second murder conviction will ease their pain.
A Calgary jury deliberated 11 hours over two days before returning Saturday with seven guilty verdicts against Mitchell Harkes, including the second- degree murder conviction.
Harkes was also convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault against Colton Lewis, assaults on Philip Bamber and Matt Zegers, and break and enter of the northwest Brisebois Drive home where students had gathered for a back- to- school party nearly three years ago.
Jazlyn Radke was previously convicted of second- degree murder in the stabbing death of Wiese.
“On Jan. 12, 2013, Jazlyn Radke orchestrated a violent and evil act of vengeance, assisted and supported by several friends including Mitchell Harkes,” Brenda Wiese, the victim’s mother, accompanied by her husband Jody, said outside court Saturday afternoon.
“Their rage and evil spirits are responsible for the debilitating attack on Colton Lewis and the death of our son and brother, Brett Wiese. There are no words to describe the pain, despair and anguish that we, Brett’s family, and many friends have suffered since this violent and senseless attack.”
Brenda Wiese also praised the work of prosecutors Carla MacPhail and James Thomas and city police homicide Det. John Orr and his team for bringing justice for them.
Several teen girls had crashed the party and were evicted, but Radke rounded up reinforcements and returned for revenge, court heard during the three- week trial. Radke, then 17, and Harkes, now 22, both were carrying knives.
Following a skirmish that started in a basement bedroom and moved upstairs, Harkes stabbed both Wiese and Lewis six times. Radke, though, delivered the lethal blow to Wiese’s back that pierced his aorta and caused him to bleed to death. Lewis barely survived following emergency surgery.
Harkes wept in the prisoner’s box as the jury read its verdict, and his mother cried hysterically in the front row of the gallery where she was comforted by friends.
Tempers flared in the courtroom between the two families following the verdicts, but sheriffs quickly restored order.
Defence lawyer Balfour Der, who had argued for an acquittal based on self- defence and the fact it was Radke who delivered the fatal injury, said he was disappointed with the verdicts.
“It’s not a murder, not a murder,” he insisted outside court. “There was a lot of evidence that said my client wasn’t the cause of death. “I discussed this with my client and recommended he appeal it because the verdict, in my opinion, is just not reasonable.
“He’s devastated. He was 19 years old when this happened and he’s facing a life sentence. He’s got no chance of parole for at least 10 years — the judge may set it higher. He’s devastated. He doesn’t think he’s a murderer ... it was pretty clear from the evidence the wounds inflicted by Mr. Harkes didn’t contribute to death.”
Der, though, said his client is very remorseful for his actions that night, which were also fuelled by alcohol.
If the jury believed expert witness, forensic pathologist Dr. John Butt, that the blows Harkes inflicted were not fatal, then they had to have accepted that he and Radke were acting in concert when they entered the home looking for the man who “hit the girl” earlier in the night.