Murder trial begins on fourth anniversary of Saskatoon mom's death

Four years to the day after a Saskatoon mother of four was gunned down in her home, a first-degree murder trial began Monday for the last of three men accused in the killing.

Lorry Ann Santos was shot after peeking out a bay window in her living room to see who was ringing her doorbell just after 6 a.m. on  Sept. 12, 2012.

Two men, both members of the White Boy Posse street gang at the time of the murder, are already serving life sentences in connection to Santos’ death. In the course of their trials, it was revealed they had meant to kill an ex-member who tried to leave the gang. A text message mix-up led them to the wrong address the day Santos was shot.

In his opening remarks in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench, Crown prosecutor Matthew Miazga accused Joshua Petrin of ordering the murder. He said Petrin should be held responsible even though the intended target wasn’t killed.

The trial opened with testimony from members of the Saskatoon Police Service who processed the crime scene in the wake of Santos’ death.

Court was shown photos from the crime scene, showing where bullets came into the family home through the bay window overlooking the front door. Officers told court that a second shooter also fired at the home from a nearby driveway.  Several of the photos showed blood and bullet fragments inside the home next to various toys, car seats and other clutter associated with the family’s small children.

Petrin’s trial is scheduled to last for two weeks, with the Crown saying it expects to call 23 witnesses.