Argument over loud music led to roommate's fatal sword attack, Calgary jurors told

An argument over loud music led to a Calgary man fatally stabbing his roommate with a sword, a local jury has heard. 

Michael Elendu, 21, is on trial for second-degree murder in the death of Kyreese George Wright, 20, who was killed on Dec. 16, 2020.

On Monday, before Elendu's trial began, he admitted to killing Wright in his offer to plead guilty to manslaughter. But prosecutors Samina Dhalla and Shane Parker proceeded to trial on a charge of second-degree murder. 

Details of the crime come from Dhalla's opening statement and an agreed statement of facts. 

In December 2020, Elendu, Wright and two others were living together in the northwest community of Panorama Hills. 

Elendu, who was from Winnipeg, had been sleeping on the sofa in the home for several weeks.

Around 10:30 a.m., Wright was getting ready to leave for work. 

Victim hid in basement

Downstairs, Elendu and another roommate were listening to loud music.

Upset over the volume, Wright came downstairs and told his roommates to turn down the music. 

Elendu argued with Wright and followed him back upstairs while threatening to cut him. 

Scared, Wright armed himself with a knife and locked himself in one roommate's basement bedroom. 

Meanwhile, Elendu grabbed a sword from an upstairs bedroom. 

Elendu taunted dying man, says Crown

He "charged down to the basement" and banged on the basement bedroom door, according to Dhalla. 

Eventually, Wright opened the door after expressing to his roommate that he didn't believe Elendu would stab him.

But as soon as the door was opened, Elendu stabbed Wright in the chest. 

As the roommates tried to save Wright's life, Elendu recorded the victim on the ground while "taunting" him and calling him names, said Dhalla. 

Elendu fled to B.C., where he was arrested 49 days later.