B.C. man who was initially charged with murder in connection with a targeted homicide in Abbotsford has pleaded guilty to a lesser offence.
A man who was initially charged with the murder of another man in Abbotsford in what police described as a targeted homicide has pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of accessory after the fact to manslaughter.
In December 2020, Michael Schweiger was charged with the Dec. 28, 2017, second-degree murder of Alexander Blanarou, 24, of Surrey.
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Two of Schweiger’s co-accused — Islam Nagem and Edrick Raju — were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slaying.
The three men were scheduled to go on trial by jury in B.C. Supreme Court but all three accused have now entered guilty pleas to lesser offences.
Nagem earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a firearm and Raju entered a plea to manslaughter with a firearm and conspiracy to commit murder.
During a brief appearance in a Vancouver courtroom on Monday, Schweiger entered his plea to accessory after the fact to the manslaughter involving Blanarou, who was known to police.
Crown counsel Catherine Fedder provided a brief synopsis in court that she said conformed with the new indictment that had been filed against the accused.
She told Justice Catherine Wedge that Schweiger and others on Dec. 28, 2017, had attended at a location in Abbotsford. While they were present at the location, Nagem went into a field and the victim, Blanarou, was shot, she said. Nagem was one of the persons who shot the victim, said Fedder.
When Nagem came out of the field, Schweiger was there in his vehicle, said the prosecutor.
“Mr. Schweiger learned that Mr. Nagem had shot the victim and the victim had died,” she said. “Mr. Schweiger drove Mr. Nagem back to his residence.”
At the time the three accused were arrested, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the shooting was a ‘targeted homicide’ linked to the drug trade. The victim’s lifeless body was found in the area of Bates and Harris roads in Abbotsford.
Wedge asked Schweiger several questions before he entered his guilty plea. Schweiger agreed that his plea was done voluntarily and that the plea was an admission to all of the essential elements of the offence.
He agreed that he understood the nature and consequences of his plea and that the court was not bound by any agreement on sentencing between the Crown and the defence.
The trial for the three men had been scheduled to get underway Jan. 3.
Schweiger faces a sentencing hearing Jan. 24. Nagem’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22. No date has yet been set for the sentencing of Raju.
kfraser@postmedia.com
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