Accused killer, alleged victim fought over car, court hears

Defence counsel suggests the deceased had enemies, including a drug dealer

The antique car owned by murder suspect Russell Steven Tessier and his alleged victim was a source of anger between the two men, the deceased’s former girlfriend testified Tuesday.

Jennifer Hirsh said both Allen Berdahl and Tessier claimed ownership of the 1960 Ambassador car, which the deceased had hoped to display in Calgary’s annual World of Wheels show.

“They both were very angry at each other over the car,” Hirsh told a three-woman, nine-man Calgary jury.

“Al thought it was his, Steve thought it was his,” she said.

“They were both very angry over it.”

Tessier, 51, is charged with firstdegree murder in the March 16, 2007, shooting death of Berdahl, whose body was found in a snowy ditch off a gravel road north of Calgary.

The body was found off Range Road 282, just east of Highway 2 and Carstairs.

Hirsh said she believed the car was stored near Carstairs.

In her opening address to jurors a week ago, Crown prosecutor Britta Kristensen said while there is no known motive for the murder, she hinted the friction over the car may have been related to Berdahl’s killing.

Hirsh said Berdahl spoke often about his dispute with Tessier over the vehicle.

“Al was venting to me regarding his fight with Steve over the car,” she testified, adding Berdahl had used derogatory names to refer to Tessier.

“He was very upset about not putting the car in the World of Wheels.”

But under cross-examination by defence counsel Rebecca Snukal, Hirsh conceded her only knowledge of the alleged dispute came from Berdahl’s mouth.

Snukal noted Hirsh had some unflattering things to say about her former boyfriend of about a year when she spoke to Mounties the day after Berdahl’s body was found.

“You described Al as a chronic liar?” the lawyer said.

“Yes,” Hirsh agreed.

She acknowledged she never actually saw the two men argue over the car and had no idea if they’d resolved any difference they may have had over it.

The lawyer said even Hirsh didn’t trust the deceased.

“In fact, when he stayed with you, you had to sleep with your purse?”

“I did,” Hirsh said. Snukal also suggested Berdahl had enemies because of his chronic dishonesty, among those a drug dealer named Vern, to whom he owed money, and his ex-wife, Mimi.

“You understand Al owed Mimi a ton of money and stole money from her?” the lawyer asked. “Yes,” Hirsh replied.

The trial continues Wednesday.