Within hours of the gangland style killing of Red Scorpion leader Jonathan Bacon outside Kelowna’s Delta Grand hotel, a forest fire attracted the attention of Mounties
From Commonage Road, a rural route between Lake Country and Vernon, firefighters were dousing flames that had ripped through the forested area. The source of the blaze, they soon discovered was a burning Ford Explorer.
Cpl. David Albrecht was at the scene of the shooting at around 5 p.m. Aug. 14, 2011 when he was called to inspect the vehicle.
Albrecht told the court Tuesday that he and another officer parked along Commonage Road and had to walk 500 to 700 yards up a winding dirt road where a Explorer was found.
“It looked intact and the front fenders and the hood were melted right off,” Albrecht said.
Pointing to photos shown in court, Albrecht said heat from the fire was so intense that glass had melted and pooled on the ground
In front of the vehicle there was something that Albrecht originally thought to be a licence plate holder, but upon closer examination realized was actually the plate.
A photo shown in court read 974 TFS.
Albrecht also observed that despite the overall destruction of the vehicle, it was still apparent that the driver door was dented.
While much of his testimony was focused around the observations of the severely burned out vehicle, Albrecht was also asked his thoughts on the location, as a long-time Kelowna resident.
He pointed out that it was a remote spot, and not “something you’d find just by driving by.”
Crown counsel has indicated that they believe the vehicle, which they say belonged to accused killer Michael Jones, was used in the shooting.
“A Ford Explorer pulled up to the passenger side of the Porsche. Gunmen opened fire from within and outside the Explorer,” Crown counsel Dave Ruse said during his opening statements.
“The gunman eventually got into their vehicle and sped off along Cawston.”
Jujhar Khun-Khun, Jason McBride and Jones are charged with the first degree murder of Bacon, the attempted murder of Riach, Amero, Hadden-Watts and Black and multiple firearm offences.
On May 29 they each pleaded not guilty to all counts. They have been in custody since their 2013 arrest.