Civilians describe speeding SUV prior and after fatal Nanaimo drive-by shooting

The accused allegedly staked out the victim in the days, hours and minutes before Crown counsel contends Campbell unloaded five shots from a handgun into Khan’s vehicle, three of which hit him.

Khan, referenced by the Crown as a man with enemies, was pronounced dead on scene.

Publication bans apply to civilian witnesses.

The Crown states it has evidence proving Campbell was waiting for Khan shortly before his death outside his Rock City Rd. apartment (Pine Ridge Village).

On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Crown counsel’s Gregory Furmaniuk questioned a female witness who resides at the neighbouring Tiffany Gardens complex.

The witness was outside the front of her building at the time when she noticed vehicle revving noises in the back parking lot.

“I heard loud vehicle sounds from behind my building and then to my left a white Escalade was leaving the building, so it was to my left, they were speeding out at a high volume of speed…”

She looked at the vehicle in shock, put her arms in the air in an attempt to alert the driver.

“This was kind of alarming,” The woman added, who told the trial the incident occurred at about 3:15 or 3:20 p.m. during the day in question.

The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m., a short drive from Tiffany Gardens.

No other people in the Escalade besides the driver were observed by the woman, who made a point of jotting down notes on her phone about the vehicle

She described the driver as a Caucasian male with short facial hair who was wearing a hat and lighter coloured shirt.

The witness did not know or recognize the driver.

“Because they were going by so fast I just took notes in my phone of what the vehicle was and what the person looked like and I do not recall seeing them afterward, except for when articles came out online.”

Also testifying last week was a woman situated around the corner from the shooting at the time.

She was suntanning on the front lawn of her Country Club Dr. townhouse complex with her friend when their relaxing afternoon enjoying a warm spring day was interrupted.

“While we were sitting outside we heard like five, six loud what we thought was gunshots, so that definitely drew our attention.”

She didn’t see the shooting, guessing the commotion was originating from the Rock City Centre area towards the highway.

The woman noticed a vehicle speeding by them shortly after and then return at a high rate of speed.

She briefly observed the driver, telling the trial he was a white man between his 30’s and late 40’s.

Conceding she is not knowledgeable about vehicles, the woman only described the vehicle as a white SUV, but noted other witnesses referred to it as a Cadillac Escalade.

The accused Campbell listened intently throughout the proceedings, occasionally leaning forward as both witnesses addressed the trial.

Crown counsel alleges three accomplices of Campbell unsuccessfully attempted to destroy his getaway vehicle minutes after the shooting on Gilfillan Rd. in the north Jingle Pot area off Biggs Rd.

The alleged getaway vehicle, containing key evidence such as Campbell’s alleged cell phone, a gun, clothing and other items crucial to the Crown’s case, remained intact.

A loaded Glock handgun, as well as Campbell’s DNA and fingerprints, were found on the weapon, Crown counsel relayed during the opening day of the trial.

The first degree murder charge against Campbell was applied over two years ago following an extensive police investigation.

After the shooting, Nanaimo RCMP stated its belief was the incident was linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.

The trial did not proceed as scheduled on Friday as Campbell was ill.

He’s represented by Victoria-based defence attorneys Jordan Watt and associate Bryan McPhail, while the Crown’s Furmaniuk is joined by Nick Barber.

Veteran Nanaimo-based high court Justice Douglas Thompson is overseeing the trial.

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by Ian Holmes

Civilians describe speeding SUV prior and after fatal Nanaimo drive-by shooting

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