Byron Bear murder case returns to court

As per testimony heard earlier this year at the trial for Kyle Burns, there had been an exchange of gunfire between the people who were at the house, and a group of people who had come to cause trouble and collect a drug debt.

Bear, who was among the latter group, was shot in the head. His body was then loaded into the back of a car and dumped near Rosthern. The vehicle was found later that day parked outside a house in Saskatoon.

While it’s been stated there were a number of people armed with guns and firing shots from the back door of the house, it is not clear who fired the shot that killed Bear.

Evidence trail at the residence. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

The Crown’s first witness on Monday was Linda Lair, who prior to her retirement in 2022, had been a member of the Prince Albert Police Service for 14 years and worked in forensics.

Over the course of two hours, she was asked to describe a number of crime scene pictures she had taken.

In addition to multiple footprints and tire tracks, there was also a lot of blood at the scene including one very long trail that appeared to stretch several feet long and was the width of the driveway.

Lair noted her belief that after the shooting, the car used to transport’s Bear’s body, had pulled up closer to the house and then fled heading north. While doing so the vehicle’s tires, went over the blood and proceeded to drag it out.

Also seen in the pictures were a number of shell casings and a jerry can. Witnesses at the Burns trial testified prior to getting shot, Byron Bear had actually dumped gasoline in the parked car and attempted to light it on fire.

The spout for the jerry can and a lighter were also located near the driveway.

When cross-examined by defence lawyer Loree Richardson, Lair was asked to comment on the challenges of the investigation and stated due the extremely cold temperature, they were unable to use their casting equipment.

She also noted issues with frost on the camera and batteries running low very quickly.

Oliver’s testimony

Daniel “Danny Boy” Oliver himself was among the Crown’s witnesses at the Burns trial and despite being mentioned by others as someone who may have actually killed Bear, and was allegedly overheard saying “I got him” maintained he never even touched a gun or was in the car that drove to Saskatoon.

This contradicted testimony from other witnesses who said he was not only in the car, but that he was the one who suggested going that way as he had family in Saskatoon.

When pressed further on the coincidence of where the car was found, Oliver denied any knowledge.

It was also brought up during testimony Oliver owed someone a large drug debt, and that person was reportedly at the house where the shooting occurred.

On this point, Oliver did admit to receiving a threat earlier that someone was coming to “blast him”, but said when he arrived at the midtown home, all he did was consume cocaine.

Two weeks have been set aside for the trial. Witnesses will include police as well as the co-accused.

A number of Bear’s family members were also present in court including his mother and brother.

Riley Primeau was sentenced last February after entering a guilty plea to manslaughter. He received an eight-year prison term.

Jackson Henry and Raine Farrow have pending court dates.

Earlier this month, Kyle Burns was acquitted of second degree murder and the lesser offence of manslaughter.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Byron Bear murder case returns to court

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