Man who killed innocent teen during B.C. gang shooting found guilty of murder

A verdict in the second-degree murder trial against Kane Carter has been rendered by the jury.

A jury has convicted a man of killing an innocent teenager and a rival gangster during a shooting on a busy Vancouver street more than seven years ago.

Kane Carter, 29, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the fatal shootings of 15-year-old Alfred Wong and 23-year-old Kevin Whiteside in January of 2018.

The jury returned its verdict Monday, just before the end of the fifth day of deliberations, finding Carter guilty on both counts.

Carter was tried on the same charges last year, but the case ended in a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

During the retrial, Crown counsel told the court Carter shot at Whiteside after Whiteside opened fire on Matthew Navas-Rivas, who prosecutors say was linked to Carter in a drug-trafficking operation. Wong, who was in the backseat of his parents’ car, was struck once in the chest and died in hospital a few days later.

Carter admitted travelling from Hamilton to Abbotsford in October 2017 and renting a condo under his younger brother’s name, and returning to Ontario a week after the shootings.

The Crown acknowledged much of its case was circumstantial, relying on video and cellphone records.

A burgundy Pontiac van prosecutors said was used as a getaway vehicle was central to the case. Investigators found it in the Surrey condo building where Carter lived, along with his DNA and three spent shell casings.

Defence lawyers told the court the casings were tied to a September 2017 Vancouver shooting, when Carter was in Ontario. They also pointed out there were no eyewitnesses who identified Carter as the shooter and no evidence placing him in the van at the time.

During instructions from the judge, the jury was instructed they had the option to find Carter guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter if they concluded the Crown proved all elements except intent to kill.

This is a developing story. More to come.