'Wat about dis shotty': Text messages shed light on Pynn-Butler trial

Much of the evidence presented to the 12-person jury in Philip Pynn and Lyndon Butler's second-degree murder trial thus far has centred on Pynn.

However, a series of text messages may shed light on the lesser-known co-accused. 

• Who's who in the tangly 2nd-degree murder case

While Pynn, 28, sits in the dock (he remains in custody following his arrest in 2011), Butler, 24, enters the courtroom each day from the street, and sits with his lawyer behind a table. 

Last week, there was a change in direction in evidence, with Butler the subject of pages of evidence presented to the jury. 

The court heard from Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers who were involved in seizing and then analyzing an iPhone that was taken from Butler soon after the July 9, 2011 shooting death of Nick Winsor.

Who sent the messages?

Although the phone was registered to Richard Butler, Lyndon Butler's brother, the Crown contends that Lyndon Butler wrote the outgoing messages you will see below.

While the text messages were not read aloud in court, jurors were given copies. Below is the transcription of just a fraction of those messages that were sent and received by — according to the Crown — Lyndon Butler. 

June 27, 2011

• Sent to Tim Blake: "No man i woulda let u kno. Wat about dis shotty u txtd me about."
• Received from Tim Blake: "I got 1 hear in Gander." "I'm here now." "It's older but its a shotty."

Not much is known about Tim Blake. However, Const. Colin McNeil testified he questioned Blake about those messages in 2012. No charges were laid in relation to that. The "shotty" is believed to be a shotgun. 

July 8, 2011

This exchange provides a voice to Nick Winsor, on the day before his death. 

• Sent to Nick Winsor: "Where u guys to its the big homie."
• Received from Nick Winsor: "Who phily? lol"
• Sent to Nick Winsor: "Your not with philly? Its john mega."
• Received from Nick Winsor: "U aint no big homie. phillys here with me. u get wheels yet?"

July 9, 2011 5:28 p.m. 

Hours before a shot was fired at the home of Tom "Billy" Power on Portugal Cove Road, Butler is alleged to have had this exchange with a contact.

• Received from Mike Whalen: "Talkimg to ur buddY"
• Sent to Mike Whalen: "Ya but im caught up with the gangsters right now gotta give me a few man."

5:41 p.m.

• Sent to an unnamed contact: "I gotta go really soon."

10:55 p.m.

In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, the phone received this innocuous text.

• Received from a contact called 'Mom' on the phone: "Be careful coming home with all the water on the roads."

July 10, 2011 12:40 p.m.

• Sent to Mom: "I just got up i stayed at andrews. Sorry for not calling. We r goin for breakfast now." ​

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5:55 - 9:18 p.m.

That evening, as word spreads about a fatal shooting in St. John's, a frantic series of texts are received.

• Received from Jimmy: "Hear what happened in porchico [Portugal Cove] road."
• Received from a contact called Fatboy: "Man hear anything about this shit with nick and philly wat the f—k is goin on."
• Received from a contact called Hissy: "Hear about philly cops are on a manhunt for him thinks he murdered someone on portugal cove road last night I hope it was him and spends a long time in jailing the f—king f——et!!!!!!"
• Received from Hissy: "?"
• Sent to Hissy: "I know right hopefully he never sees daylight again."
• Received from Hissy: "I know man f—king right homiee!!! What actaully happened bud u know?"
• Sent to Hissy: "Naw i dont tho."

July 11, 2011 10:57 a.m.

• Received from Mom: "Don't forget how much I love you! Remember 2 always be truthful 2 yourself & others."
• Sent to Mom: "I will. Love u 2" 

12:57 p.m.

• Received from Fatboy: "Guess ya heard bout nick huh."
• Sent to Fatboy: "Ya man." "God rest his soul."
• Received from Fatboy: "I no man its brunt by i dont no wat to be thinkin by anyword on wat really happined iv heard like 5 diffent things."
• Sent to Fatboy: "Ya dont listen to any of it." "Its no one business really."
• Received from Fatboy: "haha thats wat i thought."
• Sent to Fatboy: "All that matters is that nicks gone." "And it sucks bro."
• Received from Fatboy: "Ya this is true man ! Ill miss that lil f—ker tho haha"
• Sent to Fatboy: "Ya we all will bro"
• Received from Fatboy: "Wonder if they got philly after."
• Sent to Fatboy: "No i dont think"
• Received from Fatboy: "Id say they wont either for awhile."
• Sent to Fatboy: "Maybe maybe not."

July 13, 2011 10:40 a.m.

• Received from unnamed contact: "Tell me your not locked up"
• Sent to unnamed contact: "Im not."
• Received from unnamed contact: "K good"
• Received from unnamed contact: "I'm lookin at the telegram now"
• Sent to unnamed contact: "Ya"

​1:01 p.m. 

• Received from unnamed contact: "Not workin again bro ?"
• Sent to unnamed contact: "Naw still feelin sick."

Butler's arrest

Officers with the RNC arrested Butler on Michener Avenue in Mount Pearl on July 13, 2011, after a mobile surveillance unit followed him from his Paradise home. 

He was originally picked up for a parole violation, but was later charged with second-degree murder. Like Pynn, he is also charged with attempted murder of Billy Power.