Noel Harder, key figure in Project Forseti, testifying in Isho Hana murder trial

Noel Harder, a key figure in January's Project Forseti drug and gun sting, has taken the stand in the Isho Hana murder trial.

Hana was shot and killed after being chased down on Saskatoon's Preston Avenue in 2004. Three men are on trial for first-degree murder in connection to the incident. Thirty-four-year-old Kennith Tingle, 33-year-old Jonathan Dombowsky and 37-year-old Long Naam Luu all face charges. A fourth man, Neil Yakimchuk, has already been found guilty.

At the time of Hana's death, Harder was a local drug dealer, selling cocaine and ritalin. Harder said he took over his brother's drug dealing business after he died from an overdose.

Harder said he regularly dealt with Dombowsky and Luu as a drug dealer. Between 2003 and 2004, Harder said he generally purchased one kilogram of cocaine from Luu every two weeks.

On March 2nd, 2004, Harder was arrested after selling drugs to an undercover police officer. Shortly before that arrest, he told the undercover officer about a lunch meeting he had with Dombowsky and several other drug dealers in the neighbourhood.

During the meeting, the men talked about problems they had been having with Isho Hana. Hana had become increasingly aggressive with competing drug dealers, threatening them with violence if they didn't agree to work with him. One man said he had his arm broken with a hammer, because he didn't want to work with him.

According to Harder, Dombowsky said Luu had become a target, and that his girlfriend had been shot in the leg by Hana's men. In the meeting, Dombowsky said Luu had put up $25,000 to "deal with Isho".

Over the years, Harder started to work closer and closer with police, starting as a confidential informant, and eventually becoming involved with the witness protection program with Project Forseti.

Harder finally agreed to testify in the Hana trial in January. He said he received no payment and no incentives for doing so.

Meanwhile, defence attorneys were concerned about Harder's testimony. They said it amounted to hearsay, because he reported Dombowsky talking about what Long Naam Luu had said.

Harder will take the stand tomorrow. 

Project Forseti

Earlier this year, a CBC Investigation revealed Harder's connections to Project Forseti. The raids, conducted in January, resulted in drugs and weapons charges against ten members of the Fallen Saints motorcycle club.

Harder's two businesses, RTN Properties Ltd. and RTN Contractor Services, shares its address with the Fallen Saints clubhouse, according to court documents.

At the time, social media connected to the motorcycle club called Harder "a police agent and informant." Harder and his family have since vanished from Saskatoon.

Harder was not among the suspects arrested in Project Forseti, despite officers raiding his business. But Harder's name does appear on one court document linked to the raids.

Armand Hounjet runs a Melfort gun shop and is facing multiple firearms charges in connection with the arrests.

Hounjet is charged with illegally transferring a Winchester 30-06 rifle to Harder on December 15.

This allegation dates almost one month to the day before the arrests.

CBC's David Shield tweeted live from the courtroom this morning. Follow his tweets below. 

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