Jurors have begun deliberations in the second-degree murder trial of two men accused of fatally shooting a stranger on a southern Alberta highway after a chaotic roadside incident involving a burning vehicle.

The case centres on the death of Colin Hough, a Rocky View County worker, who was shot east of Calgary on August 6, 2024 after stopping to investigate a truck fire.He later died in hospital from his injuries.

The Crown argues that the evidence presented over the three-week trial points to Arthur Penner and Elijah Strawberry as the only individuals responsible for the shooting.

Prosecutors maintain that the sequence of events, witness testimony, and forensic evidence together establish their involvement beyond reasonable doubt.According to court testimony, the violence began when Matthew Andres, a power company worker, was first approached by two men who drove up to him.He was shot through the arm and injured, but survived.The assailants then allegedly stole his truck, which became stuck shortly afterwards.When Hough arrived at the scene minutes later to check on the situation, he was also shot and his vehicle was taken.

Defence lawyers have challenged the Crown’s case, arguing that the identities of the shooters cannot be confirmed because their faces were covered during the incident, making positive identification unreliable.They contend that the evidence does not definitively link their clients to the shootings.

Before jurors began deliberations, Court of King’s Bench Justice Shane Parker instructed them to keep an open mind and focus strictly on the evidence presented in court.The case has drawn attention due to its violent circumstances and the disputed identification of the accused.