The man charged in connection to the killing of Dylan McGillis on Whyte Avenue in November, 2006 was found guilty by a judge in an Edmonton courtroom.
Cleophas Decoine-Zuniga, 26, was charged with manslaughter in connection to the stabbing death of Dylan McGillis.
It’s alleged the accused was part of a group that swarmed McGillis and his friend, after they left a bar on the busy strip.
The charge was laid after police collected information in a ‘Mr. Big’ sting surrounding Decoine-Zuniga’s role in McGillis’ death, where the accused admitted to the so-called ‘gang leader’ in the sting that he had stomped and kicked McGillis before his friend “gutted him”.
At the start of his trial in early September, Decoine-Zuniga entered a not-guilty plea – saying confessions he made to undercover investigators were not true, that he thought it would make him appear trustworthy to the gang undercover investigators were pretending to recruit him into.
Testimony from the victim’s friend Robyn Palik said after McGillis and she, with a few friends, left a bar, McGillis and a friend got into an argument with a number of other men.
According to Palik, the situation quickly escalated, and McGillis was punched, thrown to the ground and then stomped on – Palik and McGillis tried to flee, but they were followed.
Justice John Gill gave his verdict in an 18-page written decision – in his decision the judge said: “I do not believe his testimony that the confessions he made to the undercover officers were false,” going on to say “The accused knew it would be counter-productive to make up a lie.”
McGillis’ family and friends were in the courtroom Friday, and his parents were quick to praise the judge’s decision.
His mother, Marlene Beres, said outside of court that she planned to visit her sons grave to share the news, and his father said he believed his son would be glad to see the support his family and friends had provided.
“I think one of the things he’d be smiling at is all the family members here, and friends, and just knowing everyone has pushed so hard to try and get this to the point it is today, and hopefully where it will be down the road,” Grant McGillis said.
Meanwhile, Decoine-Zuniga is the only person who has been charged in McGillis’ death – but the victim’s family hopes more suspects will face charges as the investigation into the case continues.
“This conviction will never bring him back,” Grant McGillis said. “That’s the sad part about today.
“I’m happy with the conviction, he’ll never be able to see his daughter, and she’ll never have her dad to hold her.”
Decoine-Zuniga is free on bail; he’s scheduled to appear in court Thursday, when a sentencing date will be set.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
