A Calgary man has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder in a case the prosecution described as a “drug deal gone wrong.”
After deliberating for nearly two full days, jurors in Paulos Berhe’s second-degree murder trial reached their verdict Thursday afternoon.
Over the last two weeks, jurors heard evidence in the trial of the Calgary drug dealer.
Berhe admitted to fatally shooting Donald Lyons, 43, and his girlfriend, Amber Beach, in December 2023, but told the judge he was acting in self-defence after the couple attacked him.
Deliberations began Tuesday afternoon following closing arguments by Crown prosecutor Peter Mackenzie and defence lawyer Allan Fay.
Earlier in the trial, jurors heard that on the night of Dec. 18, 2023, Lyons and Berhe made plans to meet at the Portico Hookah Lounge in the city’s southeast.
Lyons texted Berhe that he wanted to buy $9,000 worth of crack cocaine.
When Lyons and Beach arrived at the bar, they parked outside and Berhe got into the back seat.
Berhe testified that Beach attacked him with a knife and Lyons pointed a gun in his face. He said that’s when he reached for his own handgun and shot at the couple, killing Lyons and injuring Beach.
Beach’s testimony contradicted Berhe’s. She told jurors that Berhe shot both her and Lyons from the back seat without warning.
Court of King’s Bench Justice David Labrenz will hear sentencing arguments from Crown and defence at a later date.