Witness has ‘change of heart’ – decides to testify in Singharath second degree murder trial

A witness in the Dallin Singharath second degree murder trial had a change of heart Wednesday morning in Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon.

The man, whose name is protected by a publication ban, said he ‘wanted to do the right thing,’ adding that the questions he was answering had already been published or covered in the media.

“Yesterday, I found you in contempt of court…for refusing to answer questions,” said Justice Richard Elson. “I’m going to ask you the same question I asked you three times yesterday,” he continued.

“I’ll answer questions,” the witness told him.

Elson suspended his finding of contempt, adding that if and when the man’s testimony was completed, the contempt charge would be purged.

Crown Prosecutor Cory Bliss then began asking the man about his version of the events on the morning of July 22, 2017.

The man told the court he was high on crystal meth, beer, and other alcohol and that he had called a friend to pick him up.

Court heard the man got into an altercation with three people as he urinated on the fence surrounding a property near the Mac’s on 33rd Street West. His ride came a short time later.

After the man got into the truck, they went back to the home where the altercation took place, exited the vehicle and began ‘squaring off to fight,’ he said.

Moments later he told the court a gun went off. He denied knowing who had the gun, who shot it, or whether there was a plan to shoot anyone at the home where the altercation took place.

Bliss asked the witness when he knew a gun had been produced.

“When I heard it go off,” he testified.

After the shooting, the three drove a short distance and the witness hopped out of the truck. He later found out the other two unidentified men had gone to his apartment and then told them to leave.

The Crown then asked the man why he’d decided to tell his story Wednesday.

The man said most of the information had already been published, that he had been upset and angry the previous day, and that he was not trying to protect anyone.

27-year-old Tyler Applegate was shot on July 22, 2017. He died three weeks later in hospital.

The trial is scheduled to continue into next week.