In day 14 of the trial in the case where a Port Alberni mother is accused of the second-degree murder of her son, the girlfriend took the stand to testify.
On Aug. 29, 2021, 37-year-old Jesse McPhee was shot point blank in the chest with a hunting rifle, according to the Crown in the opening remarks on Sept. 11.
His biological mother, then 61-year-old Samantha Dittmer, owned the house and lived on the top floor. The Port Alberni mother is accused of the murder of her son, McPhee.
Brandy Kazakoff, McPhee’s girlfriend, testified on Sept. 28 that the day he was shot the three of them had spent much of the day together. She testified that McPhee and Dittmer had shared a 15 pack of Lucky beer as they checked traps at Great Central Lake.
The pair bought more beer on the way home and had a loud argument when they arrived home.
Kazakoff said Dittmer demanded her car keys at which point Kazakoff said she didn’t think she should be driving because she was drunk, already had a DUI and didn’t have a licence.
Kazakoff says Dittmer replied, “I don’t care. Give me my key, Give me my key.” Kazakoff then gave Dittmer her car keys and she left for about an hour.
When Dittmer returned home, Kazakoff says she was on the deck with the door open and McPhee was making dinner. Around eight to 10 minutes later she heard a loud bang, ran inside and saw Dittmer holding a shotgun about five feet from where McPhee lay on the ground.
Kazakoff says Dittmer said “I guess you better call 911 now” and walked upstairs with the rifle.
Both Kazakoff and Dittmer called 911, and a portion of Dittmer’s 911 call was played in court on Wednesday.
Dispatcher: “Ambulance, for what city?”
Dittmer: “Port Alberni.”
Dispatcher: “So just tell me exactly what happened.”
Dittmer: “I can’t, I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you. This is horrible. This is horrible.”
Dispatcher: “OK, take some deep breaths, OK?”
The dispatcher asked Dittmer numerous times to go to the patient to help him.
Dittmer: “I can’t look. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t look.”
Dispatcher: “Is there an attacker? Is there somebody still nearby?”
Dittmer: “No, no, he was attacking me.”
Dittmer’s lawyer will continue cross-examining Kazakoff on Friday.
-With files from CHEK’s Kendall Hanson
READ PREVIOUS:
- SEPT. 27, 2023 FROM THE TIMES COLONIST: ‘I can’t look. I can’t look’: Jury hears Port Alberni mother calling 911
- SEPT. 11, 2023: Trial starts for Port Alberni mother accused of murdering adult son
- SEPT. 2, 2021: Charge upgraded for Port Alberni mother accused of shooting and killing son
- AUG. 31, 2021: Port Alberni mother accused of shooting her adult son resulting in his death
- AUG. 30, 2021: Man fatally shot in Port Alberni neighbourhood
Laura Brougham
