Defence witness confesses to Montreal killing

In a turn of events fit for a prime-time television drama, a witness at a murder trial in Montreal confessed to being the killer.

Sébastien Calixte was testifying Monday for the defence at the trial of Whoody Aristilde, accused of premeditated murder in the shooting of Gabriel Dominique, 24, in the parking lot of a flea market in 2007.

The shooting outside the Marché 5 Étoiles in the city's St. Leonard district was believed to be the result of a territorial dispute between two street gangs, the Bloods and the Crips.

The Crown had argued a group of five young people, including Aristilde, exchanged words with Dominique before he was shot on Feb. 18, 2007.

Following the attack, the group ran onto a city bus, which was equipped with video surveillance.

On the tape played for the jury, the prosecution said Aristilde can be seen removing the murder weapon from his pants and putting it into a friend's backpack.

The Crown also presented a witness who identified Aristilde, 22, as the shooter.

Calixte, also 22, was the only witness for the defence. He said he was the one who pulled the trigger and that his conscience had forced him to come forward.

Calixte said he threw the .357 revolver on the ground before running to the bus.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Pierre Labrie, Calixte denied that he had been threatened or offered a reward in return for his testimony.

Calixte said he had not seen or spoken with Aristilde in over a year, but that it would not be right to let him take the rap for a crime he did not commit.

Closing arguments in the case will begin on Wednesday.