Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Mike McIntyre TEEN ADMITS TO TARGETING DRUG RIVALS A Winnipeg gang member took the witness stand in a high-profile murder trial Thursday and admitted to starting a chain of events that ended with the tragic shooting death of an innocent bystander. The 15-year-old witness -- who can't be named because he has a record of criminal convictions -- admits he repeatedly targeted several drug-dealing rivals with bear mace, bricks, gas bombs and guns in the fall of 2005. He was called as a Crown witness to testify against a 17-year-old who is on trial for the killing of Phil Haiart, 17, who was struck down by a stray bullet as he walked in the area of Sargent Avenue and Maryland Street. The youth's testimony comes after three other witnesses refused to take the stand last week. They have all been charged with contempt of court, with one man getting a three-year prison term. The other two will be sentenced June 25. The youth told jurors Thursday he hasn't been charged for any of his admitted offences because police just wanted him to testify against the accused killer and his co-accused, Jeffrey Cansanay. The teen and his two older brothers are members of the Mad Cowz, who were at war with several former members during the summer of 2005 after they left to form their own criminal crew called the African Mafia. Several of their targets were selling drugs out of a McGee Street home that the Mad Cowz wanted to shut down because it was on their "turf" and taking away business, he said. Both Cansanay and the teen now on trial for Haiart's killing were living in the so-called crackhouse at the time. The teen witness told jurors how he took it upon himself to let Cansanay and the accused teen know they weren't welcome. Jurors have not been told about the fate of Cansanay's criminal charges. In the days preceding the deadly shooting, the teen admits he arranged for a brick to be thrown into the home and sprayed bear mace in the face of the ex-member who he said was "talking s--t" and needed to be put in his place. There was also an exchange of gunfire on Oct. 9 in which the teen admits to buying a rifle for the sole purpose of going to meet Cansanay and the accused teen, then confronting them outside the McGee Street home. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek