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Alberta man given life sentence after murdering immigrant

A southern Alberta man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of an African immigrant who court heard was lured into an ambush.

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — A southern Alberta man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of an African immigrant who court heard was lured into an ambush.

Carl Haywood, 44, admitted to the second-degree murder of Sharmarke Warsame in Brooks two years ago. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the beating of another man, Abdirahaman Kerow.

Five other people charged have already had their cases dealt with. Court heard in those cases that the motive for the attack was revenge for an alleged rape that has never been proven.

In police video, Haywood describes how a tire iron was duct-taped to his hand to use as a weapon. A relaxed-looking Haywood explains how he and some of the co-accused waited for Warsame on the outskirts of Brooks.

Court documents from the earlier proceedings say the victims were picked up under the pretext of making a drug deal.

“The truth is, I feel bad,” Haywood told police in the video. “I made a very big boo-boo.”

Kerow was beaten so severely with what is believed to have been a metal bar that he sustained a broken skull. He was also kicked and punched repeatedly but still managed to escape.

Warsame had phoned RCMP from his cellphone to tell them he had been beaten, but he couldn’t tell police where he was.

His body was found in a field near Brooks several days later.

During Haywood’s preliminary hearing, the court heard a bizarre tale of crack-addicted teenage girls partying with grown men. Haywood acted as a father-figure and offered his home as a refuge and party shack.

Haywood told police the alleged victim of the sex assault, who was a minor, was like a daughter to him.

Haywood was also handed a three-year sentence for assault. It will be served concurrently with his murder sentence.

He has spent two years in pre-trial custody and will receive two-for-one credit.