CALGARY — Two men convicted in the shooting death of a Calgary financier are appealing their convictions.
Robert Deer and Mohamed Karim were convicted of first degree murder in the death of Jack Beauchamp.
During their trial, Karim testified he went to the downtown offices of Morbank Financial Inc. to scare Beauchamp, 49, who was involved in a business dispute with Deer.
Karim testified he had gone to Beauchamp’s 12th floor office armed with a loaded .22-calibre handgun with the intention of shooting him in the stomach and legs.
Deer acknowledged sending Karim to see Beauchamp — who was demanding an $18,000 payment for a failed mortgage deal — but specifically instructed him not to use violence.
Deer’s lawyer argued Tuesday in the Court of Appeal that the trial judge’s instructions to the jury were flawed because she didn’t tell jurors they had to find Deer paid Karim specifically to murder Beauchamp.
Karim’s lawyer suggested there was insufficient evidence his client intended to cause Beauchamp’s death.
Pawel Milczarek said Karim made it clear to undercover police posing as members of a criminal organization that the fatal shooting was accidental.
“After he displayed a handgun to the victim, Mr. Beauchamp made an unexpected motion towards him, he panicked and Mr. Beauchamp was shot,” Milczarek said.
Beauchamp, 49, the president of Morbank, was shot a half dozen times.
The appeal judges reserved their decision.