Woman who helped kill 'friend' testified at co-accused's murder trial she has no memory of fatal stabbing

A woman serving time for manslaughter testified at her former boyfriend's murder trial today, telling jurors she doesn't remember the killing because she was high on drugs.

Andrew Christal, 34, is on trial for second-degree murder in the death of Kasif Hirani, 30, who was killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 29, 2019.

Trista Tinkler was one of the first witnesses called by the prosecution. She is currently serving a six-year manslaughter sentence for her role in Hirani's death.

Tinkler and Christal are longtime friends who once dated. 

'Get in the car'

Tinkler said that she and Hirani were friends but admitted the pair made a plan to exchange sex for money. Ultimately Hirani was robbed and killed. 

On the night of the killing Tinkler and Christal were having drinks at the Regal Beagle Pub in southeast Calgary. Christal paid the bill and left ahead of Tinkler who then met Hirani in the parking lot.

Hirani bought a box of condoms at a nearby gas station before the two continued on to a liquor store, according to an agreed statement of facts read aloud by prosecutor Vince Pingitore.

The pair then ended up at the home where Tinkler was staying at the time, in Calgary's southwest community of Windsor Park. 

Hirani had told his wife he was working as an Uber driver that evening but according to the company's GPS data, he never engaged any fares the night of his death.

Outside the home in Windsor Park, Tinkler had a cigarette while Hirani reached into his car to retrieve his cell phone. Two people — one of whom was Christal — then told them to "get in the car," according to Tinkler's testimony. 

Tinkler said that both she and Hirani entered the vehicle, but that she has no recollection of what happened over the next few hours.

The next thing Tinkler said she remembers is being outside a 7-Eleven, at which point she was handed the victim's credit card which she used to make a cash withdraw and buy snacks.

20+ stab wounds

Hirani's body was found on the morning on Dec. 29 near the Springbank Airport, by a man out walking his dog.

He had suffered two dozen stab wounds to his abdomen, neck, face and hands. 

A cigarette found about 15 feet from the victim's body came back with Christal's DNA on it.

After he was arrested for Hirani's murder, Pingatore said Christal "confessed to his participation."

The trial is set to last a couple of weeks.

Defence lawyer Jim Lutz is representing Christal.