A young offender from Squamish said this week in court that he was asked to throw gasoline onto a fire as part of a movie being made by filmmaker Jeremy Deichen.
The testimony was part of a B.C. Supreme Court trial connected to the death of Josh Chapman in 2002.
The young offender, who can't be identified, was convicted last year of criminal negligence causing death.
Deichen is facing the same charge. His trial by judge alone started Sept. 6.The gasoline was thrown over Chapman as he rode his snowmobile through the fire during a party at an automotive shop. Chapman became engulfed in flames and died a few days after the incident.
Crown Counsel Ian Hay argued Deichen's actions the day of the incident in the Squamish Business Park were motivated by a desire to create a commercially viable video for public viewing.
The young offender said Deichen had a jerry can full of fuel. According to the young offender, Deichen wanted someone to throw the gasoline. The former Howe Sound Secondary School student volunteered to do the job because he said he thought it would be neat to be in the film.
Chapman started riding toward a wall of flames and when the snowmobile arrived, the young offender said he heard someone demand the gas so he threw it, creating a big ball of fire.
Justice Robert Bauman heard testimony indicating that Chapman was covered in flames and he ran into a bush area while his friends tried to extinguish the flames.
The young offender said he said he was also on fire and once he put out the flames he went to help Chapman.
He said he looked up and saw Deichen's truck driving away.
Crown Counsel Ian Hay has a long list of witnesses for the trial, which is expected to continue until the end of the month.Once Hay is finished questioning his witnesses, Deichen's lawyer, Matthew Nathanson, will begin his arguments and bring his witnesses to the stand.
Nathanson declined to discuss any elements of the defense [email protected]
