Trial in Kitsilano masseuse killing gets under way
- Thread starter susi
- Start date
From the Vancouver Province Friday
Jury to decide on strangler’s intent
ANDREW EVANS:
Defence claims he was too drunk to knowingly murder prostitute
A former University of B.C. rugby player once treated for alcoholism — and who admitted strangling a prostitute and dragging her body into the bushes behind a Kitsilano apartment block — may have been too drunk to know what he was doing, a court was told yesterday.
Andrew Evans admitted strangling Nicole Parisien in a drunken rage after paying her for sex in a Kitsilano apartment.
A B.C. Supreme Court jury will decide whether Andrew William Evans, 27, is guilty of second-degree murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter in the Aug. 27, 2007, killing.
In her final address yesterday, Madame Justice Catherine Wedge instructed the six male and six female jurors they must conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Evans meant to kill Nicole Parisien.
To convict Evans of second-degree murder — which carries an automatic minimum 10 year sentence without eligibility for parole — the jury has to unanimously agree he meant to cause death or intended to cause bodily harm that he knew could have caused death with no regard to whether she could die, said Wedge.
Evans would otherwise be found guilty of manslaughter, which carries no minimum sentence before possible early release.
Evans had paid the 33-year-old $200 to have sex with her in an apartment in the ivycovered green building at the southwest end of the Burrard Street Bridge.
Evans, dressed in a yellow sweater, plaid shirt and beige pants, sat in the prisoner’s box, showing no emotion and occasionally glancing at his father and mother, who occasionally wiped away her tears.
Wedge also recounted the testimony of an expert witness on the defence of intoxication, which could help the jury determine whether or not Evans “was so intoxicated that he couldn’t inform an intent to kill.”
The jury heard that Evans drank heavily on the fateful evening at a house party and at the Roxy nightclub, where friends pegged his drunkenness at eight or nine on scale of one (sober) to 10 (comatose). They recalled him being hyperactive, wild-eyed and energetic.
The former UBC student, peer counsellor and restaurant worker had also used marijuana that night and taken a partial dose of ecstasy.
On the way home, he had a taxi stop at a convenience store to get cigarettes and, while there, he used a computer to take down two sex-for-hire numbers he found on Craigslist.
At the suite, he paid Parisien $200. When he was unable to get an erection and she eventually questioned how much he had had to drink that night, he “got terribly angry or hurt and flew into a rage and began hitting and choking her,” then realized he had killed her, said Wedge.
He wrapped her body in bedding and dragged her noisily down the stairs from the fifth-floor suite and into the bushes, then fled while witnesses called police.
Evans took a Greyhound bus to his parents’ home in Calgary and told them he may have killed someone. He turned himself in to police and confessed.
The three-week trial heard that Evans started drinking when he was 12 and spent 11 months at a treatment centre beginning in 1999, when he was 17. His family believed he remained sober from 2000 to 2007. One of his rugby teammates had never known him to take a drink.
Evans was described as “bright, social and athletic,” when sober and dishonest and manipulative while drinking.
Friends testified that Evans was was honest and non-violent.
The Crown maintained there was enough evidence to find Evans guilty of second degree beyond a reasonable doubt.
slazaruk@theprovince.com
_______________________________________________________________________
This guy was a mean drunk.
I'm surprised the "drunk defense" still has some standing in a Canadian court.
Maybe a Civil suit against the Roxy and his friends are in order.
Jury to decide on strangler’s intent
ANDREW EVANS:
Defence claims he was too drunk to knowingly murder prostitute
A former University of B.C. rugby player once treated for alcoholism — and who admitted strangling a prostitute and dragging her body into the bushes behind a Kitsilano apartment block — may have been too drunk to know what he was doing, a court was told yesterday.
Andrew Evans admitted strangling Nicole Parisien in a drunken rage after paying her for sex in a Kitsilano apartment.
A B.C. Supreme Court jury will decide whether Andrew William Evans, 27, is guilty of second-degree murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter in the Aug. 27, 2007, killing.
In her final address yesterday, Madame Justice Catherine Wedge instructed the six male and six female jurors they must conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Evans meant to kill Nicole Parisien.
To convict Evans of second-degree murder — which carries an automatic minimum 10 year sentence without eligibility for parole — the jury has to unanimously agree he meant to cause death or intended to cause bodily harm that he knew could have caused death with no regard to whether she could die, said Wedge.
Evans would otherwise be found guilty of manslaughter, which carries no minimum sentence before possible early release.
Evans had paid the 33-year-old $200 to have sex with her in an apartment in the ivycovered green building at the southwest end of the Burrard Street Bridge.
Evans, dressed in a yellow sweater, plaid shirt and beige pants, sat in the prisoner’s box, showing no emotion and occasionally glancing at his father and mother, who occasionally wiped away her tears.
Wedge also recounted the testimony of an expert witness on the defence of intoxication, which could help the jury determine whether or not Evans “was so intoxicated that he couldn’t inform an intent to kill.”
The jury heard that Evans drank heavily on the fateful evening at a house party and at the Roxy nightclub, where friends pegged his drunkenness at eight or nine on scale of one (sober) to 10 (comatose). They recalled him being hyperactive, wild-eyed and energetic.
The former UBC student, peer counsellor and restaurant worker had also used marijuana that night and taken a partial dose of ecstasy.
On the way home, he had a taxi stop at a convenience store to get cigarettes and, while there, he used a computer to take down two sex-for-hire numbers he found on Craigslist.
At the suite, he paid Parisien $200. When he was unable to get an erection and she eventually questioned how much he had had to drink that night, he “got terribly angry or hurt and flew into a rage and began hitting and choking her,” then realized he had killed her, said Wedge.
He wrapped her body in bedding and dragged her noisily down the stairs from the fifth-floor suite and into the bushes, then fled while witnesses called police.
Evans took a Greyhound bus to his parents’ home in Calgary and told them he may have killed someone. He turned himself in to police and confessed.
The three-week trial heard that Evans started drinking when he was 12 and spent 11 months at a treatment centre beginning in 1999, when he was 17. His family believed he remained sober from 2000 to 2007. One of his rugby teammates had never known him to take a drink.
Evans was described as “bright, social and athletic,” when sober and dishonest and manipulative while drinking.
Friends testified that Evans was was honest and non-violent.
The Crown maintained there was enough evidence to find Evans guilty of second degree beyond a reasonable doubt.
slazaruk@theprovince.com
_______________________________________________________________________
This guy was a mean drunk.
I'm surprised the "drunk defense" still has some standing in a Canadian court.
Maybe a Civil suit against the Roxy and his friends are in order.
My 2 cents.
Drunk and high is NOT an excuse to get off of brutally murdering someone, then savagely dragging their dead body down 5 flights of stairs and dumping it.
I'd say, he's probably screwed in the courts, cuz of his behavior afterward. He remembered the act, which is indicative of his hopping on a bus to his parents, and turning self in.
Drunk and high is NOT an excuse to get off of brutally murdering someone, then savagely dragging their dead body down 5 flights of stairs and dumping it.
I'd say, he's probably screwed in the courts, cuz of his behavior afterward. He remembered the act, which is indicative of his hopping on a bus to his parents, and turning self in.
I completely agree. Not only did he beat and choke her but his mind was clear enough to dispose of her body as if she was a bag of garbage. Also you don't choke somebody unless you are trying to kill them. I'm sure most people have lashed out in a rage at one time or another but you usually hit, slap and kick. Choking is a premeditated act. When you choke you know that it will lead to death very quickly. Put him behind bars for as long as possible. He's obviously a danger to society.
I havent read through this entire post but I have to say this much......If he is young. Which I am assuming he is since he did play rugby,.....then his ED is probably the fault of his own doing. In most cases, young guys have ED due to sterioids or major illegal drug use.
I had a client that insisted on smoking crack the whole two hours that I was with him. He couldnt maintain a hard on either. Afterwards, I vowed I would not see anyone that was on drugs or drunk. I think that is just asking for trouble. Just the same, I would not take outcalls after 1 am......the odds are, that the client is either drunk or stoned. In most cases.
Its a shame this poor girl had to pay with her life, because of something this guy probably caused himself.
Prayers to her family.
And a word of advice to the guys that do hardcore drugs......the high may be great, but it takes a toll on your body.
love and laughs
April
I had a client that insisted on smoking crack the whole two hours that I was with him. He couldnt maintain a hard on either. Afterwards, I vowed I would not see anyone that was on drugs or drunk. I think that is just asking for trouble. Just the same, I would not take outcalls after 1 am......the odds are, that the client is either drunk or stoned. In most cases.
Its a shame this poor girl had to pay with her life, because of something this guy probably caused himself.
Prayers to her family.
And a word of advice to the guys that do hardcore drugs......the high may be great, but it takes a toll on your body.
love and laughs
April
Guilty of 2nd degree murder
Andrew Evans guilty of second degree murder in 2007 death of Nicole Parisien
Evans strangled Parisien after a night of heavy drinking
News1130 Staff VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) 2009-10-03 16:50
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - 27-year-old Andrew Evans has been found guilty of second degree murder in the death of Nicole Parisien.
The jury, made up of six men and six women, reached a verdict late Friday night. The former UBC rugby player strangled Parisien, a sex trade worker, back in 2007 after a night of heavy drinking.
The Province newspaper reports Parisien's family is pleased with the decision. A second degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for at least 10 years.
Andrew Evans guilty of second degree murder in 2007 death of Nicole Parisien
Evans strangled Parisien after a night of heavy drinking
News1130 Staff VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) 2009-10-03 16:50
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - 27-year-old Andrew Evans has been found guilty of second degree murder in the death of Nicole Parisien.
The jury, made up of six men and six women, reached a verdict late Friday night. The former UBC rugby player strangled Parisien, a sex trade worker, back in 2007 after a night of heavy drinking.
The Province newspaper reports Parisien's family is pleased with the decision. A second degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for at least 10 years.
Wow. I'm pleasantly surprised that the appropriate verdict was reached. He'll probably be out on parole in 6 years (given that time served before conviction customarily counts double), but it's the best that could be hoped for.
