Grand Manan Five member tells Ross trial about July 22 riot

Last summer's riot on Grand Manan started as a gathering of 20 concerned islanders intending a "peaceful intervention," and later turned ugly, according to a man who took the stand in the latest riot-related trial.

Carter Foster testified Tuesday in a St. Andrews court against Ronald Ross, who is charged with uttering threats against Foster and his girlfriend, Sarah Wormell, prior to the July 22, 2006, riot. Ross is also on trial for illegal possession of a firearm and with threatening to burn down the home of the couple.

The night's events culminated in the burning of Ross's home.

Foster told the court that he and his neighbours were being terrorized by Ross, who had allegedly told them to sleep with one eye open, because he was going blow up and burn the whole neighbourhood.

Word spread across the island that Ross and his friends from the mainland were planning to burn things up, Foster testified, and it all came to a head on July 22.

Foster, a member of the group dubbed The Grand Manan Five, gathered with more than 20 other islanders, preparing for a "peaceful intervention," he testified.

"Everyone got together and worked well as a group, but there was no premeditation," Foster stressed.

In the middle of a street fight, he testified that he heard one of Ross's friends yell "go get the gun."

Shots were fired and Foster told the court he ran to get his own rifle. From the roof of his shed, Foster said he fired at a parked vehicle on Ross's property.

In the end, Ross's house burned to the ground and Foster said he still has nightmares.

"Being shot at, loud bangs. I just shake and seriously I just come to in my sleep," Foster said. "It was traumatic."

'I'm not on trial here'

Defence lawyer Joel Hansen attacked Foster on the stand, calling him a sniper who had every intention of getting rid of Ross once and for all that July night.

Hansen claimed Foster performed a terrorist action against Ross.

Foster retorted, "I'm not on trial here." He added, "Your life's being threatened, what would you do?"

Wormell testified that things have changed for the better on Grand Manan since Ross left town.

"There's more awareness of drugs, parents are starting to talk to their kids and they're having meetings at the school," Wormell said.

"People are talking about it. We've had people come up to us and say it was an eye-opener for them and they haven't touched drugs since."

The trial, expected to wrap up Thursday, continues tomorrow. The defence will not say whether Rosswill take the stand.

Five Grand Manan men were originally charged in connection with the attack, but only four were convicted of various weapons and arson offences.

Foster was convicted of unsafe storage of a weapon, and was to serve six months probation.