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An Edmonton man who killed a young boy when he drove into a restaurant patio recounted the ordeal of later being abducted from his home and having his thumb chopped off.
Testifying Monday at the provincial court trial of Steven Vollrath, Richard Suter spoke of seeing three men "dressed in SWAT gear" and claiming to be police at the door of his Riverbend home after repeated bell ringing and knocking about 11 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2015.
Suter, 65, told court he was handcuffed, placed in a truck and had a bag and then a blindfold put on him while being driven around. They then pulled over and he was made to kneel in the snow.
Suter testified he only had a housecoat and boots on and kept asking what was going on and why before one of the men told him he had done "something bad" a couple of years ago to a family member.
Then, after saying he told the man he had been "in an accident and a baby died," Suter said the guy replied "there you go."
He testified he was then restrained while one of the men tried to remove his left thumb with a blunt tool. When that didn't work, he said someone grabbed what he believes were pruning shears and "finished the job."
Suter told court he was then beaten unconscious and woke up later alone with a black eye, scraped face, bruised throat and "blood squirting out" where his thumb used to be.
After walking for about 15 minutes, Suter said he flagged down a vehicle and 911 was called.
In an opening statement, Crown prosecutor Jim Stewart said Suter was found with a black fannypack that is believed to be connected to Vollrath. Stewart also said that Suter identified Vollrath as one of his abductors in a police photo lineup.
According to an agreed statement of facts, a piece of expired identification issued to Vollrath was found in the fannypack.
The statement also says Vollrath purchased a faux bullet proof vest with the words POLICE ICE stencilled on it and a toque with POLICE stencilled on it from Supply Sergeant in West Edmonton Mall on Jan. 19, 2015.
Court heard a cell phone was found in the fannypack that had a photo of Vollrath's face on it and was linked to phone records associated to a "Diamond" Vollrath.
Defence lawyer Paul Moreau said in his opening statement that it is a circumstantial case and the key issue will be identification.
Vollrath, 33, is charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and impersonating police.
The trial is scheduled for three days.
According to agreed facts, on May 19, 2013, Suter's Acura SUV went over a curb, through a glass barrier and into the table where Geo Mounsef was sitting with his parents and baby brother at Ric's Grill, pinning Geo against the outer wall.
Suter testified he was not impaired, but became distracted while arguing with his wife as he was parking, and "hit the gas pedal instead of the brake."
Both the Crown and Suter have appealed the sentence although Suter has already served the time.
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