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Son tried to push his way into room, father stopped him

A murdered mother’s son struggled with his gun-wielding father in a vain attempt to protect her, a Red Deer court heard Friday.

A murdered mother’s son struggled with his gun-wielding father in a vain attempt to protect her, a Red Deer court heard Friday.

Jeremy Volker, who was 16 at the time, testified he tried to push his way into his mom’s bedroom about 3 a.m. to assist her while she twisted and turned to keep the barrel of the sawed-off .22-calibre rifle from being pointed at her.

Jeremy told a Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench jury his father Brian Volker said nothing while the two pushed and shoved each other in Debi Volker’s entry way.

“He was trying to push me out the door and I pushed back,” said Jeremy, testifying in a calm and collected manner.

“He pushed me out and closed the door,” Jeremy told Crown prosecutor Anders Quist.

Brian Clarence Volker, 50, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 44-year-old wife.

He is also charged with breaking and entering and committing an offence, using a firearm to commit an offence, and four counts of breaching conditions of a release from custody.

The Crown is out to prove Brian Volker wanted revenge on Feb. 23, 2009, because his wife and three children left him a few months earlier.

The three children, also including Jordan, who was 14 at the time and Janelle, who was 11 at the time, testified to a hushed gallery, which included about 30 family members and friends of both the accused and the victim.

All three rarely glanced at their father but each testified calmly while controlling their emotions.

Jeremy testified at one point his mother had climbed off her bed and came to the doorway but the accused managed to push his son out the door while at the same time restraining Debi Volker.

“He had a glazed look and was glassy-eyed,” Jeremy said of his father’s appearance.

All the while Brian Volker held the modified weapon at his side, said Jeremy who saw into the darkened bedroom from a hallway light.

Jeremy said at one point when he first came upstairs after being woken up by his mother’s shouts, he saw his father holding the weapon at waist level while trying to point it at his mother.

Brian Volker was kneeling beside the prone Debi Volker who said “‘What are you doing?”’ Jeremy said.

He said his mother had hold of the barrel at one point while she twisted and turned away from the muzzle. His mother told him to get his brother and sister out and call police.

Janelle Volker said she called 911 but handed the phone to Jeremy who said he may have pushed the pause button.

“I heard two bangs and saw him come out,” Jeremy testified.

The three youths hurried to put on their coats and grab Jeremy’s vehicle keys as their father came down the hallway.

“He (Brian Volker) came out with the gun in one hand holding it at his side,” Jeremy said.

The youths raced to Jeremy’s pickup followed by their father who then disappeared toward the back alley, Janelle said.

Jordan Volker said he was awakened by his sister and remembered clearly it was 3:04 a.m. on his digital alarm clock.

“The image has yet to leave my mind,” he said.

The youths drove around before stopping at an aunt and uncle’s residence in Delburne.

Sgt. Patrick MacIsaac of the Red Deer RCMP Emergency Response Team also testified about the circumstances of Volker’s arrest later that morning.

The trial continues Monday before Justice Doreen Sulyma.

jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com

said when he arrested Brian Volker at 11:52 a.m. later that morning in the yard of his farm residence, located about eight km northwest of Delburne, his hands were white and swollen.

Brian Volker was first observed through rifle scopes by the ERT unit lying on his side in the snow and snoring.

After about 10 minutes the police approached and woke up the accused. MacIsaac didn’t detect the smell of alcohol on the accused.

He only had on running shoes, pants and a hooded sweater but no gloves.