The only employee present when a Vancouver businessman was shot and killed at an office Christmas party two years ago says her boss told the suspect "don't shoot us" before she ran out of the room.
Accountant Tracey Iu began crying before she even started her testimony at the first-degree murder trial of Eric Kirkpatrick on Monday.
The 63-year-old is accused of fatally shooting TallGrass Distribution CEO Ben Banky on Dec. 12, 2008. Kirkpatrick was fired from the company the day before.
Iu told the court she was getting ready for the party when Kirkpatrick came in with a gun asking for Banky. She recalled Banky telling Kirkpatrick "don't shoot us."
Iu said Banky pushed her out of the line of fire and into an office. She said she ran to the window and screamed for help while several shots were fired.
Iu said she turned around to see her boss lying on the floor with his hand on his face.
Through tears, Iu said she asked Banky if he was okay. It was that moment she said Kirkpatrick pointed the gun at her.
As she left, Iu said she looked back to see the suspect pointing the gun down at her boss.
Kirkpatrick had been fired from his job the day before the office shooting. The court heard testimony that Kirkpatrick was distraught that his wife had died of cancer years previously.
Angelyne Martin, who was working across the street that night, testified that she saw Iu hanging out of a window screaming for help. Martin says she then saw a man who appeared to be in his late 50's with disheveled hair holding a gun.
She saw the man pull the trigger, aiming below Iu. Martin testified she heard several shots.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Norma Reid
