e el er Murder tri Bob Mackin Contriguting Writer MICHAEL Caster turned a stupid, person- al dispute into the planned and deliberate public execution of Mohammed Mirhadi, Crown counsel Mark Levitz told a B.C. Supreme Court judge and jury Monday. His statement came during dosing arguments at Caster’s first-degree murder tral. Justice Randall Wong gave instructions to the cight- woman, four-man jury Tuesday morning before it began to decide the fate of the 21-year-old North Vancouver man. If convicted, Caster faces up to 25 years in prison with- out parole. Levitz argued that evidence shows thar Caster killed Mirhadi on Feb, 28, 1997 in North Vancouver’s Famous Players Esplanade 6 because of a Feb. 26 altercation in the Capilano = Mall ~—_parkade. “Hasn't the time arrived to tind Michael Caster guilty as charged?” Levitz asked the jury. : Caster, according to Crown witness David Darmadi, was slapped and kicked by Mirhadi two days before the murder. Darmadi had sold stolen tape decks to Caster through a middleman, but the tape decks didn’t work and Caster wanted a refund. Darmadi heard rumours that Caster issued threats against him. Darmadi asked longtime friend Mirhadi to help him resolve the dis- pute. Caster wanted revenge * against “the bully” Mirhadi, Levitz said. Caster confessed to being Mirhadi’s killer in a con- versation secretly taped by police. The conversation was played for the court Jast month. “That’s not a very impressive motive, that's not Be N ticed We specialize in custom design 922-2014 (wock tone) ALL ALONE? Discover the companionship and happiness that comes only through faith in CHRIST Find out more every Sunday at 10:45am at DELBROOK very macho reason” Levitz sail. “He gave him that reason because it’s true.” Caster, wearing a bomber jacket with the American flag onits back, left work ar Kinney Shoes in Capilano Mall at 9:06 pan. on Feb. 28, 1997, His departure with four men was recorded on a hidden camera. A man wearing the same jacket was recorded on the video surveillance system at the theatre. The man purchased five movie tickets for $42.50 between 9:27 and 9:31 p.m. using a counterfeit CIBC Visa Gold credit card. The card bore the number and expiry date of a card that belonged to Dr. David G. Bailey. Levitz said Bailey testified that he bought shoes at Kinney on Jan. 6. Levitz said evidence shows Caster used a swipe machine connected to 2 laptop comput- ‘er under the counter to record information from customers’ credit cards. Levitz reminded the jury that Bailey said he had never been to the theatre, nor had he loaned his card to anyone. Caster, Levitz said, didn’t expect to sce Mirhadi on the escalator and in the front row that night. When he did, he began scheming his revenge. Caster went home to his apart- ment at Marine Drive and Capilano Road to retrieve a gun and disguise and returned to shoot Mirhadi during the gangster movie Donnie Brasco. Levitz. said Caster fled the theatre after shooting Mirhadi and went to the nearby apart- FACTORY FUTON DECISION time for Michael Caster. ment of his friend Elton May. There Caster stashed a bag containing a 9 mm semi-auto- matic gun and clothes before he went to the Metropolis pool hall. Caster did not testify, nor did his lawyer Paul McMurray introduce any evidence. He said it is the Crown's responsibility to prove Caster’s guilt. “Michael Caster has asserted his innocence by pleading not guilty,” said McMurray, who urged the jury to acquit his client. MeMurray said it wasn’t Caster who killed Mirhadi, but J.M. 1.M."s name cannot be pub- lished because of a court ordered media ban. He will face a first-degree murder trial in October. In his closing sub- missions, MeMurray reminded the jury that Caster’s sidekick confessed on Aug. 16, 1997 to the murder to a Pearce in Edmonton, but recanted a few days later in Vancouver. J.M. Wachaces: Se4 pice safa bed frame. triste foam cove (ates, scatch-garted fatan cave. Entrance in tear lane Mon.- Sat. 11-Gym Sunday 12-5 om ‘ our » Valentine's Day Bouquets from $19.99 . over 20 selections We carry Ecuador Roses Exouerite Moments Park Royal South Market Square across 59 Supervalu Hl 720 Marine Dr, North Van Free pick-up & drop offanywhere on the North Shore | our lot. | 987-7ao3 claimed he was covering for his friend Caster. “The Crown and police failed to consider that (LAL) was telling the truth when he contessed.” MeAfurray argued. The investigation shitted to Caster, but ignored [ML as the shooter, McMurray said JM. is a “hot-rempered young man, prone to violence, who likes the ganester lifestyle. That’s the Kind of guy who does things like this.” JM. told Peatee he had been humiliated in a nightelub in tront of friends by Mirhadi. That, McMurray said, was a reasonable motive. “He hare boured a longstanding ill-will for Mirhadi,” said McMurray. “He likes guns, he likes vio- lence. He confessed.” McMurray said the shooter was described by witnesses David Brick and Catherine Brown as being 5°9” and 180 pounds. Brick and Brown sat together in the theatre watch- ing Donnie Brasco when a man came in an exit door left ajar and shot Mirhadi, McMurray said the couple's description sounds more like brawny J.M. than scrawny Caster. McMurray said the infor- mation Caster offered Pearce had already been reported in the media. Caster’s version was inconsistent and inaccu- Wednesday, February 10, 1999 — North Shore News - 5 rate, he said. Caster, he said, told: Pearce there were theee shots fired, causing four wounds. In tact there were ve wounds, Caster used hand zestures to describe Mirhadi’s teaction, claiming to Pearce he shot the man in the palm of his right hand and heart. Mirhadi was shot through the back of his left hand and in the abdomen, in addition to his head and neck. “The hand is wrong, the location of his hand is wrong, the number of wounds is wrong.” While they had their suspi- cions that the criminal organi- zation Pearce belonged to may have been an undercover police scheme, Caster and J.M. decided to “ride aleng” because of the lure of easy money, McMurray said. It was a dangerous game, he acknowledged. “In playing that game, they got way over their heads. They lost, they were arrested.” McMurray said there were gaps in the police investigation. The bullet that went through Mirhadi’s head was found in an air vent in the front leit corner of the theatre. Const. Barry Alexander, a firearms expert, was neither asked to figure out how that bullet got there, nor was he Don’t Miss Out! Order your Valentine's day gift before February 10th and West Van Florist will include a free glass holder and aromatherapy candle for your sweetie. (minimum arder $49.98) draws to a close | asked to determine whether the bullets and shell casings came from the same gun. MeMurray speculated that there may have been more shots fired or a second gun used in the crime. MeMurvay said there were others who had more plausible motives to kill) Mirhadi than Caster. Raymond Chan, according to) Darmadi’s testimony, offered $65,000 for the death of those he believed were involved in his brother Randy's kidnapping. Three of the four people charged in the 1996 incident were shot, execution style: Roman Mann and Bindy Johal died late last year, while Mani Rezaci_ was disabled in late 1996, McMurray said Mirhadi was on Chan’s hit list, despite the testimony of Vancouver City Police Det. Rob Forsberg’s who told the court Mirhadi was not a suspect. “That sounds like a pattern of revenge,” McMurray said. MeMurray also claimed Mirhadi owed an $8,000 debt to George Wasfi, a cocainz dealer who was recently charged in connection to a 1998 murder at a Boundary Road car lor. “We don’t know why the police didn’t pursue those leads,” he said. New! Drive-Thru Pickup Service Order early and save time! Call today for details. Visit us at the Century Plaza’s Men’s Valentine Shopping Extravaganza ’ Wednesday, February 10, 12:00 xoon to 8:00 pm Valentine’s Day - Sunday, February 14th Sweeten someone’s heart witht our exquisite chocelates OPEN and delightful cards. OPEN. 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