1 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:05,967 ANNOUNCER: This program is rated 14+, and contains 2 00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:07,967 scenes of violence and mature subject matter. 3 00:00:08,100 --> 00:00:09,834 Viewer discretion is advised. 4 00:00:12,633 --> 00:00:13,567 [siren wailing] 5 00:00:13,734 --> 00:00:14,834 [Yang] It-- It was shocking. 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,834 It's-- It's something that you can't believe 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,100 it's happening in front of you. 8 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:20,633 [Reece] All I knew was it was very dangerous. 9 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,834 [Foster] We need to close that scene down as soon as we can, 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,367 so we're not losing evidence. 11 00:00:25,533 --> 00:00:27,300 We still didn't really know what occurred. 12 00:00:27,467 --> 00:00:28,467 [indistinct police radio chatter] 13 00:00:28,633 --> 00:00:29,333 - [dogs barking] - [officer] Put your hands 14 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:30,867 straight up in the air. 15 00:00:31,033 --> 00:00:33,200 [Bangloy] I'm trying to get as much of the truth as possible. 16 00:00:33,367 --> 00:00:34,467 It's really happening. 17 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,333 [Hak] This case had far-reaching consequences. 18 00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:40,266 [man] She felt something wrong was happening, 19 00:00:40,433 --> 00:00:42,367 and she was trying to correct it. 20 00:00:42,533 --> 00:00:44,533 [tense music] 21 00:00:45,633 --> 00:00:47,900 Welcome to Crime Beat, I'm Antony Robart. 22 00:00:48,066 --> 00:00:49,834 Tonight, a dramatic scene in the middle 23 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,133 of the busy Trans-Canada Highway, 24 00:00:52,300 --> 00:00:54,500 as it cuts through the city of Calgary. 25 00:00:54,667 --> 00:00:57,133 As a shocking altercation between a pedestrian 26 00:00:57,300 --> 00:00:59,734 and a heavy-duty pickup truck escalated, 27 00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:03,033 dozens of witnesses were left wondering why. 28 00:01:05,333 --> 00:01:09,467 Here, now, is Nancy Hixt, with "A Fatal Decision". 29 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:14,133 [traffic rumbles] 30 00:01:15,166 --> 00:01:18,667 [Hixt] On a warm spring morning in June of 2015, 31 00:01:18,834 --> 00:01:21,400 Calgarians were soaking up the sunshine. 32 00:01:21,567 --> 00:01:25,066 [siren wails] 33 00:01:25,233 --> 00:01:27,100 But the mood was quickly darkened 34 00:01:27,266 --> 00:01:29,567 by a chaotic turn of events. 35 00:01:30,633 --> 00:01:35,033 Just after 11 a.m. on Sunday, the 7th of June, 2015, 36 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,500 I was called by one of my officers to be notified 37 00:01:38,667 --> 00:01:40,633 that there had been a serious injury collision. 38 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,700 And it appeared to be domestic-related. 39 00:01:43,667 --> 00:01:46,600 A female struck by a vehicle, 40 00:01:46,767 --> 00:01:48,934 some sort of shouting, some sort of disturbance. 41 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,133 [Hixt] It happened in a busy commercial area, 42 00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:54,166 in front of numerous witnesses. 43 00:01:54,333 --> 00:01:55,433 It was shocking. 44 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,567 It's something that you're-- you're just... 45 00:01:58,734 --> 00:02:01,367 [sighs] ...you can't believe it's happening in front of you. 46 00:02:01,533 --> 00:02:03,567 [tense music] 47 00:02:03,734 --> 00:02:06,900 [Hixt] Emmett Yang was driving when it all unfolded. 48 00:02:07,066 --> 00:02:11,667 [Yang] This F-350 came booming out of the parking lot, 49 00:02:11,834 --> 00:02:14,200 and I had to swerve to miss him. 50 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:16,467 And, pulled in front of him. 51 00:02:16,633 --> 00:02:20,000 He came out of the Home Depot parking lot fast. 52 00:02:20,166 --> 00:02:21,367 Overshot the first lane, 53 00:02:21,533 --> 00:02:24,133 and tried to pull into the middle lane right away. 54 00:02:24,300 --> 00:02:26,533 And at that time, 55 00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:29,867 a woman was screaming as she was chasing the truck. 56 00:02:30,033 --> 00:02:31,567 And there was a red light. 57 00:02:31,734 --> 00:02:34,133 We were all stopped at the intersection. 58 00:02:34,300 --> 00:02:36,600 ♪ 59 00:02:36,767 --> 00:02:39,333 [Hixt] Everything was happening very quickly. 60 00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:40,600 And in the background, 61 00:02:40,767 --> 00:02:43,000 Emmett heard another woman yelling. 62 00:02:43,166 --> 00:02:45,000 There was a very distinct voice, 63 00:02:45,166 --> 00:02:49,200 and I remember seeing her scream, 64 00:02:49,367 --> 00:02:52,367 "Get down, get down, get off the truck, 65 00:02:52,533 --> 00:02:54,066 you're going to get hurt." 66 00:02:54,233 --> 00:02:56,900 And she repeated similar words 67 00:02:57,066 --> 00:02:58,900 at least three times, screaming them. 68 00:02:59,066 --> 00:03:01,500 ♪ 69 00:03:01,667 --> 00:03:04,300 [Reece] I was watering plants at Home Depot. 70 00:03:04,467 --> 00:03:09,266 I just saw this big truck drive in a pretty aggressive manner 71 00:03:09,433 --> 00:03:11,967 out onto 16th Avenue, facing west. 72 00:03:12,133 --> 00:03:15,367 And then I saw this woman running behind. 73 00:03:15,533 --> 00:03:18,934 But he did stop before he got into-- onto the roadway, 74 00:03:19,100 --> 00:03:21,000 so I was able to get his licence number. 75 00:03:21,166 --> 00:03:23,700 And-- And then once he turned out, 76 00:03:23,867 --> 00:03:26,166 I could see a woman running. 77 00:03:26,333 --> 00:03:29,300 She went right out onto the roadway without stopping, 78 00:03:29,467 --> 00:03:30,400 without looking. 79 00:03:30,567 --> 00:03:31,667 She just ran out, 80 00:03:31,834 --> 00:03:33,934 and she pounded on the passenger-side window. 81 00:03:35,133 --> 00:03:36,867 The vehicle stopped almost in front of me. 82 00:03:37,033 --> 00:03:40,166 Everything kind of just closed in on that scenario. 83 00:03:40,333 --> 00:03:42,333 As soon as she stepped onto the roadway, 84 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:43,967 I said, "Come back here." 85 00:03:44,133 --> 00:03:45,333 I was really screaming at her. 86 00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:47,500 I said, "Come back here, I've got his license number." 87 00:03:47,667 --> 00:03:50,467 I said-- but, like, screaming in a way 88 00:03:50,633 --> 00:03:52,066 that I really wanted to get her attention. 89 00:03:52,233 --> 00:03:54,734 She didn't look at me. I'm sure she didn't hear me. 90 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:56,400 At this time, I knew that things 91 00:03:56,567 --> 00:03:58,533 were really not gonna go well. 92 00:03:58,700 --> 00:04:02,700 She actually took a step onto the bumper, 93 00:04:02,867 --> 00:04:06,567 and then hoisted herself up onto the hood of the truck. 94 00:04:06,734 --> 00:04:09,200 Now, this is a-- a really big truck, 95 00:04:09,367 --> 00:04:13,000 and so she had to-- it-- it was a-- 96 00:04:13,166 --> 00:04:15,900 I couldn't-- I couldn't process the physicality of it all. 97 00:04:16,066 --> 00:04:18,567 I just really could not process what I was seeing. 98 00:04:18,734 --> 00:04:20,300 She was climbed up on the hood to try-- 99 00:04:20,467 --> 00:04:22,934 and hinder him from moving. 100 00:04:23,100 --> 00:04:25,500 I remember consciously thinking, 101 00:04:25,667 --> 00:04:28,800 "No, don't do that. Don't do that." 102 00:04:28,967 --> 00:04:30,967 I saw the truck lurching, 103 00:04:32,934 --> 00:04:35,233 trying to scare her off of the hood of the truck. 104 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,300 It lurched three, four times. 105 00:04:37,467 --> 00:04:39,834 And I turned as soon as he accelerated and moved, 106 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,600 because I knew there was no positive outcome 107 00:04:43,767 --> 00:04:47,900 that could happen as a result of what I was witnessing. 108 00:04:48,066 --> 00:04:49,834 She lost her footing, um... 109 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,166 and this part is definitely in slow motion. 110 00:04:52,333 --> 00:04:56,800 I saw her go under the front wheel of the truck. 111 00:04:56,967 --> 00:04:58,900 And then milliseconds later, 112 00:04:59,066 --> 00:05:03,433 I saw her go under the-- the dual wheels in the back. 113 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,967 And the truck lurch up, 114 00:05:06,133 --> 00:05:11,433 and her on the ground, rolled over, eyes shut. 115 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,133 And-- And I don't know if it was blood 116 00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:17,734 coming out of her mouth, but it-- to this day, I can see it. 117 00:05:17,900 --> 00:05:20,600 [Hixt] Witnesses watched in disbelief. 118 00:05:21,367 --> 00:05:23,900 The offending truck fled the scene. 119 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:27,600 [Yang] He darted, right away. 120 00:05:27,767 --> 00:05:30,433 He-- He hit the gas, traffic had broke. 121 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,967 He immediately went into the right lane, 122 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:36,734 and turned very fast onto 19th Street. 123 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:40,800 I just thought, "No, no." And... I followed him. 124 00:05:40,967 --> 00:05:42,834 I-- I don't know why. 125 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,433 And I, like, just hit the gas. 126 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,367 Like, I put my car sideways 127 00:05:48,533 --> 00:05:51,166 around-- onto the turn onto 19th Street. 128 00:05:51,633 --> 00:05:54,200 And then he started picking up speed. 129 00:05:54,367 --> 00:05:58,166 And we were probably in excess of 120 kilometers an hour 130 00:05:58,333 --> 00:05:59,166 in a 50 zone. 131 00:05:59,333 --> 00:06:01,834 I remember, like, grabbing my phone 132 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,867 to try and take a picture of the licence plate. 133 00:06:05,033 --> 00:06:07,200 And I just couldn't, we were just going too fast. 134 00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:08,533 I-- I can't do that. 135 00:06:08,700 --> 00:06:11,667 But I do recall that we were just passing people. 136 00:06:11,834 --> 00:06:14,300 Like, he went into oncoming traffic. 137 00:06:14,467 --> 00:06:16,700 I-- I pulled out slightly, and crossed the yellow 138 00:06:16,867 --> 00:06:18,333 a little bit to keep up. 139 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:20,734 And... I-- I don't know why. 140 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:22,533 I just kept on following. 141 00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:25,800 There was a bunch of cars parked on the side, here. 142 00:06:25,967 --> 00:06:26,767 And... 143 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:31,533 the-- the truck almost took out a row of cars here. 144 00:06:31,700 --> 00:06:33,767 We-- We must've tried to take that corner doing about 145 00:06:33,934 --> 00:06:35,533 40 or 50 kilometers an hour. 146 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:39,900 We were driving erratically through this area. 147 00:06:40,066 --> 00:06:44,266 It's nice out. Kids are playing on the lawn. 148 00:06:44,433 --> 00:06:47,633 And I just thought, I'm going to hurt somebody. 149 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,000 I'm going to hit a kid. 150 00:06:49,667 --> 00:06:53,767 And uh... yeah, it was a-- I-- I just backed off. 151 00:06:53,934 --> 00:06:55,700 And then the adrenaline started fading off. 152 00:06:55,867 --> 00:06:58,000 And I just realized, I-- what am I doing? 153 00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:01,200 I'm-- I'm a dad, I'm not Batman. 154 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,500 [Hixt] The driver of the heavy-duty pickup was gone. 155 00:07:05,667 --> 00:07:08,467 And the victim was badly injured. 156 00:07:08,633 --> 00:07:11,233 Several witnesses rushed to her aid, 157 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,033 while others called for help. 158 00:07:14,767 --> 00:07:16,567 [Reece] And I kept thinking, "Don't move her." 159 00:07:16,734 --> 00:07:18,467 Leave her. Just leave her where it is, 160 00:07:18,633 --> 00:07:19,600 until the ambulance gets here. 161 00:07:19,767 --> 00:07:20,834 I-- I just kept-- 162 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:22,467 I wasn't looking there, because I didn't-- 163 00:07:22,633 --> 00:07:25,600 I didn't ever see her on the ground. 164 00:07:25,767 --> 00:07:27,567 I never looked. I just couldn't look. 165 00:07:27,734 --> 00:07:29,066 But I just kept yelling at people. 166 00:07:29,233 --> 00:07:31,633 And, you know, people were just, I don't know, 167 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,967 people were just in-- in shock. 168 00:07:34,133 --> 00:07:39,133 I mean, it was a... it was a shocking situation. 169 00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:41,900 [intense music] 170 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,567 Welcome back to Crime Beat. 171 00:07:55,734 --> 00:07:58,433 A shocking scene on a major Calgary thoroughfare 172 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,433 left witnesses horrified, 173 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,000 and a woman clinging to life in hospital. 174 00:08:03,533 --> 00:08:06,000 It was initially believed to be a domestic incident, 175 00:08:06,166 --> 00:08:08,533 until investigators discovered surveillance video 176 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:10,500 that told a much different story. 177 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,734 Here, again, is Nancy Hixt with "A Fatal Decision". 178 00:08:18,433 --> 00:08:19,433 [siren wailing] 179 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,467 [tense music] 180 00:08:23,233 --> 00:08:24,834 [Hixt] EMS and police responded 181 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,367 to multiple 911 calls, 182 00:08:27,533 --> 00:08:29,734 and found a woman badly injured 183 00:08:29,900 --> 00:08:32,367 in the middle of 16th Avenue, 184 00:08:32,533 --> 00:08:33,967 the TransCanada Highway, 185 00:08:34,133 --> 00:08:36,533 as it cuts through the city of Calgary. 186 00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:38,734 [sirens wailing] 187 00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:41,266 The woman, unconscious but breathing, 188 00:08:41,433 --> 00:08:43,367 was rushed to hospital. 189 00:08:43,533 --> 00:08:44,934 [Foster] The pedestrian had sustained 190 00:08:45,100 --> 00:08:46,667 life-threatening injuries, 191 00:08:46,834 --> 00:08:50,533 and we still didn't really know what occurred, 192 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:54,467 other than the fact that she'd been run over by a vehicle, 193 00:08:54,633 --> 00:08:56,567 and that the vehicle had fled the scene. 194 00:08:58,633 --> 00:09:01,300 [Hixt] Officers closed the major thoroughfare, 195 00:09:01,467 --> 00:09:03,400 and taped it off as a crime scene. 196 00:09:05,233 --> 00:09:07,533 [Foster] With a hit and run, it's even more imperative 197 00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:08,967 for us to close the roadway, 198 00:09:09,133 --> 00:09:11,767 because another vehicle driving over there 199 00:09:11,934 --> 00:09:14,867 can pick up a piece of the suspect's vehicle, 200 00:09:15,033 --> 00:09:17,600 can be caught up in treads of another vehicle's tires, 201 00:09:17,767 --> 00:09:19,066 or whatever it may be. 202 00:09:19,233 --> 00:09:22,000 So, we need to close that scene down as soon as we can, 203 00:09:22,166 --> 00:09:23,633 so we're not losing evidence. 204 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:25,500 [sirens blaring] 205 00:09:25,667 --> 00:09:28,066 The immediate area is fairly commercial. 206 00:09:28,233 --> 00:09:30,734 There's petrol stations there, or gas stations, 207 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:33,400 restaurants, fast food places, what have you. 208 00:09:33,567 --> 00:09:36,300 North Hill Mall is just to the south 209 00:09:36,467 --> 00:09:38,000 of the collision location. 210 00:09:38,166 --> 00:09:40,734 There's a fire hall very nearby. 211 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:43,100 So it's a fairly busy area. 212 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:46,867 [Hixt] Each witness was interviewed. 213 00:09:47,033 --> 00:09:50,433 Police canvassed businesses for CCTV, 214 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,600 as the Collision Reconstruction Unit 215 00:09:52,767 --> 00:09:54,800 gathered evidence from the scene. 216 00:09:54,967 --> 00:09:59,033 [Foster] We had a fairly distinctive scuff mark 217 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:04,166 on the roadway which indicated the Dually tires. 218 00:10:04,333 --> 00:10:07,867 The marks that we saw, or that we identified, 219 00:10:08,033 --> 00:10:10,166 were consistent with an acceleration mark. 220 00:10:10,333 --> 00:10:11,834 It wasn't a braking mark. 221 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,867 So, this was a vehicle that the driver 222 00:10:15,033 --> 00:10:17,033 had stamped on the accelerator. 223 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,066 The wheels started spinning before it started to move, 224 00:10:20,233 --> 00:10:22,467 and we had this very clear path of travel, 225 00:10:22,633 --> 00:10:24,166 initially on the roadway. 226 00:10:24,333 --> 00:10:27,567 The initial information we had was that it was a large... 227 00:10:29,066 --> 00:10:32,767 F-350 type vehicle with Dually wheels. 228 00:10:32,934 --> 00:10:38,166 So, the side-by-side wheels on the back of the vehicle itself, 229 00:10:38,333 --> 00:10:39,967 and we had a plate for the vehicle. 230 00:10:40,133 --> 00:10:41,633 That vehicle came back as stolen. 231 00:10:42,633 --> 00:10:44,800 So, it became even more imperative 232 00:10:44,967 --> 00:10:47,300 to try and find this vehicle as soon as possible. 233 00:10:47,467 --> 00:10:49,600 We can't do anything until we have the vehicle. 234 00:10:49,767 --> 00:10:51,767 [indistinct police radio chatter] 235 00:10:51,934 --> 00:10:55,500 So, we're out, we're doing what we call a grid search, 236 00:10:55,667 --> 00:10:58,200 checking all the roads in the immediate vicinity, 237 00:10:58,367 --> 00:11:00,500 looking for this particular vehicle. 238 00:11:01,767 --> 00:11:05,266 [Hixt] The victim had suffered skull and neck fractures, 239 00:11:05,433 --> 00:11:09,333 a bruised lung, and severe injuries to her legs. 240 00:11:09,500 --> 00:11:12,467 She was clinging to life in hospital. 241 00:11:12,633 --> 00:11:13,767 [Foster] So, we established fairly quickly 242 00:11:13,934 --> 00:11:15,867 that the pedestrian was Maryam Rashidi, 243 00:11:16,033 --> 00:11:18,900 who was an employee at the Centex gas station. 244 00:11:19,066 --> 00:11:21,834 [Hixt] That's when police discovered new evidence 245 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,233 that proved this strange and senseless incident 246 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,066 wasn't a domestic dispute after all. 247 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,100 [Foster] Because we were able to get the manager 248 00:11:30,266 --> 00:11:32,567 to come down to the gas station itself, 249 00:11:32,734 --> 00:11:36,400 we were able to get hold of the CCTV footage fairly quickly, 250 00:11:36,567 --> 00:11:38,500 and that told us the story. 251 00:11:38,667 --> 00:11:41,300 It showed the truck coming into the gas station. 252 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:44,200 It showed, if I remember correctly, 253 00:11:44,367 --> 00:11:46,867 the passenger getting out of the vehicle, 254 00:11:47,033 --> 00:11:49,533 filling the vehicle up with gas, 255 00:11:49,700 --> 00:11:51,967 and then, basically, them leaving. 256 00:11:52,133 --> 00:11:55,200 We established that this had actually been a drive-off, 257 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,533 theft of petrol from a nearby gas station, 258 00:11:58,700 --> 00:12:00,667 and it appeared that she was trying to stop them 259 00:12:00,834 --> 00:12:01,867 from fleeing the scene. 260 00:12:02,033 --> 00:12:05,667 I recall the video showing Maryam 261 00:12:05,834 --> 00:12:07,900 rushing out of the gas station, 262 00:12:08,066 --> 00:12:09,633 the actual office itself, 263 00:12:10,533 --> 00:12:12,266 running up to the vehicle, 264 00:12:12,433 --> 00:12:16,367 and basically chasing it out of the gas station forecourt. 265 00:12:16,533 --> 00:12:18,567 [Hixt] Surveillance cameras then lost 266 00:12:18,734 --> 00:12:21,433 both the truck, and Maryam Rashidi. 267 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,567 The pedestrian was in hospital, 268 00:12:24,467 --> 00:12:26,800 she-- under care, in the intensive care unit. 269 00:12:27,433 --> 00:12:29,533 So, again, I couldn't speak to her. 270 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:32,200 During the course of the theft of the petrol, 271 00:12:33,133 --> 00:12:37,800 they filled up with something like $113 worth of diesel fuel, 272 00:12:37,967 --> 00:12:42,500 and basically drove off once they-- they filled up. 273 00:12:42,667 --> 00:12:46,867 [Hixt] Police believed she was trying to stop a gas-and-dash. 274 00:12:47,033 --> 00:12:49,467 [Foster] Certainly when I spoke to her husband later, 275 00:12:49,633 --> 00:12:54,700 there was some sort of feeling that if the vehicle got away, 276 00:12:54,867 --> 00:12:56,834 her pay would be docked by the amount 277 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,433 that actually went missing. 278 00:13:00,133 --> 00:13:02,033 This was completely untrue. 279 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,700 Speaking to the manager, he goes, 280 00:13:04,867 --> 00:13:08,066 "It's-- it's the cost of doing business, we get drive-offs." 281 00:13:08,233 --> 00:13:10,433 Bilking, and to make-off without payment 282 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,033 back in 2015, was fairly common. 283 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,400 That was before you had to go in and pay for your fuel, 284 00:13:16,567 --> 00:13:17,967 before you could get gas. 285 00:13:18,133 --> 00:13:20,200 So that, in itself, wasn't... 286 00:13:20,767 --> 00:13:24,934 For somebody to-- to be stopped by that attendant 287 00:13:25,100 --> 00:13:28,734 and then with no regard for them, 288 00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:30,800 try to shake them off the front of the vehicle, and drive off, 289 00:13:30,967 --> 00:13:33,300 and-- and leave that person lying on the ground, 290 00:13:34,066 --> 00:13:36,467 that was-- that was unusual. 291 00:13:38,834 --> 00:13:40,233 [Hixt] Concerned that valuable 292 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,667 forensic evidence would be lost, 293 00:13:42,834 --> 00:13:46,934 the race was on to track down the truck and the driver. 294 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:50,767 We took the unusual step of releasing photographs 295 00:13:50,934 --> 00:13:54,667 of the driver and the passenger from the vehicle, 296 00:13:56,233 --> 00:13:59,934 and had them shared amongst the media fairly quickly. 297 00:14:00,700 --> 00:14:02,900 She was trying to stop a thief from speeding away. 298 00:14:03,066 --> 00:14:05,834 Now she's in hospital, and the man is on the run. 299 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,467 [reporter] Police are looking for a copper-coloured 300 00:14:07,633 --> 00:14:10,033 Ford F-350, with dual wheels in the back, 301 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,900 and Alberta licence plate EUX 378. 302 00:14:13,066 --> 00:14:15,133 The suspects are described as 20 to 25, 303 00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:16,734 with a slim build. 304 00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:19,567 The driver had brown hair, the passenger had blonde hair. 305 00:14:19,734 --> 00:14:22,934 A member of the public actually contacted the police, 306 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:26,033 and said that a vehicle had been abandoned 307 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,100 at the back of their house. 308 00:14:28,633 --> 00:14:32,533 This is that big, huge puzzle piece that we need 309 00:14:32,700 --> 00:14:34,834 in any hit-and-run investigation. 310 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,200 [Foster] I ensured that the vehicle 311 00:14:39,367 --> 00:14:42,633 was forensically photographed at the scene, 312 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,166 where it was found, with lots of detail, 313 00:14:46,333 --> 00:14:47,967 because once it starts to move, 314 00:14:48,133 --> 00:14:50,600 I may lose evidence from the vehicle. 315 00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:53,100 [Hixt] The truck was towed for further examination 316 00:14:53,266 --> 00:14:55,834 by forensic crime scene's investigators. 317 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,734 It was scoured for possible prints and DNA. 318 00:14:59,900 --> 00:15:03,033 In this particular instance, tire marks were important. 319 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,633 The actual tread pattern from the vehicle, we photographed, 320 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:12,233 and later when we went to see Maryam, 321 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:13,867 we seized her clothing, 322 00:15:14,033 --> 00:15:15,700 we actually had the tread pattern 323 00:15:15,867 --> 00:15:18,367 from the tires on her clothing. 324 00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:24,133 So, we had that extra... piece 325 00:15:24,300 --> 00:15:25,700 that puts that vehicle there, 326 00:15:25,867 --> 00:15:27,934 and being the one that ran her over. 327 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:31,900 On top of that, we had a scuff mark on the bumper 328 00:15:32,066 --> 00:15:34,433 of the vehicle which had-- 329 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,266 well, it wasn't a scuff mark, 330 00:15:36,433 --> 00:15:39,967 it was an imprint of her clothing 331 00:15:40,133 --> 00:15:41,400 actually on the bumper. 332 00:15:41,567 --> 00:15:43,667 And when we did the match-up there, 333 00:15:43,834 --> 00:15:46,467 we were quite happy that this definitely was the vehicle 334 00:15:46,633 --> 00:15:48,400 that did the drive-off, 335 00:15:48,567 --> 00:15:51,367 and that Maryam had some sort of contact with, 336 00:15:51,533 --> 00:15:54,333 which led to the collision itself. 337 00:15:55,166 --> 00:15:58,333 [Hixt] That's when the case took a devastating turn. 338 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:00,700 [somber music] 339 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:12,900 [somber music] 340 00:16:13,066 --> 00:16:14,100 [news anchor] The victim of a hit-and-run 341 00:16:14,266 --> 00:16:16,367 at a gas station has now died. 342 00:16:16,533 --> 00:16:19,734 Maryam Rashidi passed away earlier this afternoon. 343 00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:23,667 The sad thing is, this is over $113. 344 00:16:23,834 --> 00:16:26,533 A wife, and a mother of a 6-year-old boy 345 00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:30,934 is dead over $113 in unpaid gas. 346 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,200 That's a pretty harsh reality for this family, 347 00:16:33,367 --> 00:16:35,767 who came to Canada just a few months ago, 348 00:16:35,934 --> 00:16:37,300 to build a brighter future. 349 00:16:37,934 --> 00:16:40,000 [Shallo] She was the best thing that I had. 350 00:16:40,767 --> 00:16:43,166 She was a kind mom. 351 00:16:43,734 --> 00:16:45,467 She was very responsible. 352 00:16:45,633 --> 00:16:48,934 We wanted to begin a better life, 353 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:52,667 and we wanted to find a better job, 354 00:16:52,834 --> 00:16:55,567 but unfortunately, we lost both of them. 355 00:16:56,734 --> 00:16:59,900 [Hixt] Maryam and her husband Ahmad moved to Canada 356 00:17:00,133 --> 00:17:02,533 in late 2014 from Iran. 357 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:04,600 They were both engineers, 358 00:17:04,767 --> 00:17:07,800 and landed jobs in the oil and gas industry. 359 00:17:07,967 --> 00:17:11,800 But a downturn in the economy left them both laid off. 360 00:17:11,967 --> 00:17:16,033 Miriam took a job at the gas station to make ends meet. 361 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:17,667 The day she was run over, 362 00:17:17,834 --> 00:17:20,600 she was working her fourth shift. 363 00:17:20,767 --> 00:17:23,767 Right now, I'm worried about our-- my son. 364 00:17:23,934 --> 00:17:26,266 Because he asks me, "Where is mom?" 365 00:17:26,967 --> 00:17:29,600 And why-- "Why my mom died?" 366 00:17:29,767 --> 00:17:32,000 I don't know what to-- what should I tell him. 367 00:17:33,033 --> 00:17:35,700 [Hixt] His only solace was that her death 368 00:17:35,867 --> 00:17:38,533 would give others a chance to live. 369 00:17:39,066 --> 00:17:41,834 They decided to-- to do a body-- 370 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,500 a body organ donation at the third day 371 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:47,967 that Maryam was in coma. 372 00:17:48,133 --> 00:17:51,667 And today I received a call from hospital. 373 00:17:51,834 --> 00:17:54,433 They-- They told me that... 374 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,533 Maryam's organs was wonderful, 375 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:01,533 was okay for doing donation. 376 00:18:01,967 --> 00:18:06,467 I'm glad that six people can survive. 377 00:18:06,934 --> 00:18:10,367 It's enough for me, and I think, for Maryam. 378 00:18:10,533 --> 00:18:12,567 It's... enough for-- yeah. 379 00:18:12,734 --> 00:18:14,100 It make me happy. 380 00:18:18,333 --> 00:18:19,934 [Foster] So, once we found out that Maryam Rashidi 381 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:22,433 had passed away, this ramped up our investigation 382 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,266 from basically a simple hit-and-run investigation 383 00:18:25,433 --> 00:18:27,467 into a fatality investigation. 384 00:18:27,633 --> 00:18:30,867 And with the circumstances surrounding the whole incident, 385 00:18:31,033 --> 00:18:32,800 we started looking at the possibility 386 00:18:32,967 --> 00:18:35,800 of manslaughter charges or even murder charges, 387 00:18:35,967 --> 00:18:38,433 dependent on what evidence we gathered, 388 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,834 and also, after consultation with the Crown. 389 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,767 [Hixt] As traffic collision experts 390 00:18:42,934 --> 00:18:45,000 work to recreate what happened, 391 00:18:45,166 --> 00:18:48,000 they put together a detailed timeline. 392 00:18:48,166 --> 00:18:49,600 So, this whole incident happened within 393 00:18:49,767 --> 00:18:51,300 half a block to a block. 394 00:18:51,467 --> 00:18:53,100 We start off at the Centex gas station. 395 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:56,300 The offender drove through the Home Depot parking lot, 396 00:18:56,467 --> 00:18:57,934 and exited onto 16th Avenue, 397 00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:00,967 where the emergency gate is for the fire department. 398 00:19:01,133 --> 00:19:03,734 My world is in seconds. 399 00:19:04,867 --> 00:19:06,100 When I deal with a collision, 400 00:19:06,266 --> 00:19:07,300 a collision is over and done with 401 00:19:07,467 --> 00:19:10,000 in about an eighth of a second, 402 00:19:10,166 --> 00:19:11,533 and that's from the initial contact, 403 00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:12,967 and vehicles separating. 404 00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:17,867 This is-- a hit-and-run like this, 405 00:19:18,033 --> 00:19:19,567 this happened in seconds. 406 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,900 Think about a vehicle pulling into a forecourt, 407 00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:24,000 guy getting out, filling with gas, 408 00:19:24,166 --> 00:19:27,734 putting the nozzle back into the pump, and driving off. 409 00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:29,667 Maybe a minute. 410 00:19:30,667 --> 00:19:32,300 Her reaction is to come and stop them. 411 00:19:33,033 --> 00:19:35,934 Add another 30 seconds to getting onto the hood, 412 00:19:36,467 --> 00:19:37,400 And then the collision. 413 00:19:38,166 --> 00:19:41,433 So, everybody's life has changed in a minute and a half, 414 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,800 two minutes, and that's what this entire thing was. 415 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,467 [Hixt] The case became high-profile, 416 00:19:50,633 --> 00:19:51,934 and there were renewed calls 417 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:55,433 for pay-before-you-pump legislation. 418 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,934 Like, make it mandatory for everybody 419 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:00,133 to prepay or pay at the pump. 420 00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:04,967 All employees should be trained for safety, for safety. 421 00:20:05,133 --> 00:20:09,700 This wasn't the first time there'd been a drive-off. 422 00:20:09,867 --> 00:20:13,000 If I recall correctly, there'd been one in B.C. 423 00:20:13,166 --> 00:20:15,967 where a gas station attendant had been killed. 424 00:20:16,667 --> 00:20:19,667 And certainly this one involving Maryam 425 00:20:19,834 --> 00:20:22,233 was the impetus, in certainly Alberta, 426 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,567 to make it a requirement to fill-- 427 00:20:24,734 --> 00:20:26,333 to pay before you fill up. 428 00:20:27,133 --> 00:20:30,266 If you are restricted to obtaining fuel 429 00:20:30,433 --> 00:20:34,233 only when you prepay, then gas-and-dashes can't occur. 430 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:35,867 It might be a stolen credit card, 431 00:20:36,033 --> 00:20:37,800 but at least there's a payment. 432 00:20:37,967 --> 00:20:41,033 But when you're able to take fuel without paying for it, 433 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,633 it encourages gas-and-dashes. 434 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:47,533 If the Centex gas pump had required prepayment, 435 00:20:47,700 --> 00:20:49,633 then this wouldn't have occurred, either. 436 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,900 [somber music] 437 00:20:52,066 --> 00:20:54,567 [Hixt] The push for change would take time. 438 00:20:54,734 --> 00:20:56,834 Yeah, then we have him driving away. 439 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,367 [Hixt] But at that moment, the service priority 440 00:21:00,533 --> 00:21:03,400 was to identify the driver of the truck. 441 00:21:03,567 --> 00:21:07,200 That's when the release of CCTV images to the media 442 00:21:07,367 --> 00:21:09,700 led to a break in the case. 443 00:21:09,867 --> 00:21:12,033 [Tell] We were able to identify Joshua Mitchell. 444 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,233 As I recall, Mitchell was known to us, 445 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:17,934 a petty criminal, essentially. 446 00:21:18,100 --> 00:21:19,734 [Hixt] The identity of the suspect 447 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:22,100 was corroborated by fingerprints 448 00:21:22,266 --> 00:21:24,000 on a large McDonald's cup 449 00:21:24,166 --> 00:21:26,934 found in the driver's-side centre console 450 00:21:27,100 --> 00:21:29,700 of the stolen Ford F-350 truck. 451 00:21:30,533 --> 00:21:33,934 So, from that point, we were then trying to identify 452 00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:35,567 where those people were located. 453 00:21:35,734 --> 00:21:41,567 So, inquiries were made to identify home addresses, 454 00:21:41,734 --> 00:21:44,166 places that they frequented, 455 00:21:44,333 --> 00:21:47,133 and officers were sent to those locations 456 00:21:47,300 --> 00:21:49,800 to track those people down. 457 00:21:49,967 --> 00:21:51,467 The passenger was found first. 458 00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:55,967 I think he understood the severity of what was happening, 459 00:21:56,133 --> 00:21:58,333 and was affected by what had happened. 460 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:02,433 And he said to us that, yes, it was Joshua Mitchell, 461 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,767 and that he was prepared to stand up in court and say that. 462 00:22:07,734 --> 00:22:10,200 [Hixt] Police got a tip that Joshua Mitchell 463 00:22:10,367 --> 00:22:11,834 had been couch-surfing, 464 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,033 and ended up at this northwest Calgary home. 465 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,500 My friend asked if he could stay here for a bit 466 00:22:17,667 --> 00:22:19,967 because he had nowhere to go because he got kicked out. 467 00:22:20,133 --> 00:22:22,533 And my mom said it was okay for him just to, like, 468 00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:25,166 stop by, and have a place to sleep. 469 00:22:26,700 --> 00:22:28,266 [Hixt] They said they were shocked to find 470 00:22:28,433 --> 00:22:30,467 their home surrounded by police, 471 00:22:30,633 --> 00:22:33,033 with Mitchell refusing to come out. 472 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:34,700 I find that really stupid, to be honest. 473 00:22:34,867 --> 00:22:37,233 Like, the fact that he could just stay in the house, 474 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:38,800 and, like, not have told anybody, 475 00:22:38,967 --> 00:22:42,266 is-- just puts, like, a lot of other people at danger. 476 00:22:42,433 --> 00:22:46,033 [Hixt] It was a volatile and unpredictable situation. 477 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,800 The TAC team, K-9 and negotiators 478 00:22:48,967 --> 00:22:52,767 were brought in as a standoff ensued. 479 00:22:52,934 --> 00:22:54,667 [officer] Folks, get up by your house, please. 480 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:56,500 Thank you. 481 00:22:56,667 --> 00:22:58,867 [Foster] And that's why we use negotiators, 482 00:22:59,033 --> 00:23:03,533 right, to get a peaceful solution to what's going on. 483 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:07,300 [Hixt] This went on for hours, until finally... 484 00:23:07,467 --> 00:23:09,333 [officer] Come out, keep your hands pressed in the air. 485 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:10,533 [indistinct police radio chatter] 486 00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:12,200 Put your hands straight up in the air! 487 00:23:12,367 --> 00:23:13,633 [dogs barking] 488 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,600 [Hixt] Mitchell came out, and gave himself up. 489 00:23:16,767 --> 00:23:18,166 [officer] Keep going. Stop. 490 00:23:18,333 --> 00:23:20,066 Keep your hands straight up in the air. 491 00:23:20,233 --> 00:23:22,133 Walk backwards towards me. 492 00:23:24,367 --> 00:23:25,300 Keep walking! 493 00:23:25,967 --> 00:23:28,633 [Foster] I was advised later on in the evening, 494 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:29,834 about nine o'clock, 495 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,700 that Mitchell had surrendered himself. 496 00:23:32,867 --> 00:23:35,500 But based on the time of day, it was reasonable 497 00:23:35,667 --> 00:23:37,734 that they'd be put down for rest period, 498 00:23:37,900 --> 00:23:41,033 and that we would interview them early the next morning. 499 00:23:43,233 --> 00:23:44,667 [Hixt] Joshua Mitchell was charged 500 00:23:44,834 --> 00:23:47,233 with criminal negligence causing death, 501 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,000 hit and run causing death, 502 00:23:49,166 --> 00:23:51,567 and dangerous driving causing death. 503 00:23:52,734 --> 00:23:54,467 Well, we've learned that the accused 504 00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:56,934 in this case, Joshua Cody Mitchell, 505 00:23:57,100 --> 00:24:00,600 was out on bail for a charge of dangerous driving 506 00:24:00,767 --> 00:24:03,333 when Sunday's fatal gas-and-dash happened. 507 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:10,500 [reporter] Despite Mitchell's criminal history, 508 00:24:10,667 --> 00:24:13,266 news of the arrest provided some comfort 509 00:24:13,433 --> 00:24:14,834 to Maryam's family. 510 00:24:15,934 --> 00:24:17,133 [Foster] I was able to tell him that 511 00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:18,533 we had two people in custody, 512 00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:20,834 and the fact that we had the vehicle, 513 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,533 the fact that the investigation was progressing very well. 514 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:27,533 This is 11 years after the event, now. 515 00:24:28,734 --> 00:24:31,100 And it still sort of, like, wells up a little bit, 516 00:24:31,266 --> 00:24:32,900 you know, the lump at the back of the throat, 517 00:24:33,066 --> 00:24:35,100 thinking about what happened that day. 518 00:24:35,266 --> 00:24:36,633 Because it was so preventable. 519 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,333 [solemn organ music] 520 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,600 [faint conversation] 521 00:24:51,867 --> 00:24:54,800 [Hixt] Mourners filled a Calgary funeral chapel 522 00:24:54,967 --> 00:24:57,967 just days after the violent gas-and-dash 523 00:24:58,133 --> 00:24:59,934 killed Maryam Rashidi. 524 00:25:00,767 --> 00:25:05,233 We were sad and angry that such a beautiful life 525 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:09,700 has been taken away for such a cruel act 526 00:25:09,867 --> 00:25:11,033 by some young people. 527 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,033 Maryam's husband spoke through a translator. 528 00:25:14,734 --> 00:25:17,300 [speaking another language] 529 00:25:17,467 --> 00:25:20,834 "To God we belong, and to him we shall return. 530 00:25:21,567 --> 00:25:24,433 My son Koroosh and I would like to express 531 00:25:24,934 --> 00:25:28,667 our heartfelt gratitude for your presence here. 532 00:25:30,767 --> 00:25:33,300 She's not here to make it to the end. 533 00:25:33,467 --> 00:25:36,300 The journey we both began four years ago. 534 00:25:37,633 --> 00:25:40,734 Maryam was only 36 years old. 535 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:43,233 We challenged all the barriers to immigrate 536 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:47,967 to Canada with enthusiasm and passion." 537 00:25:48,133 --> 00:25:49,467 [faint hum of conversation] 538 00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:51,233 [Hixt] Her father spoke to the room 539 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,233 on the phone from Iran. 540 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:55,000 [father speaking another language] 541 00:25:59,834 --> 00:26:03,500 Still struggling to comprehend that his mother was gone, 542 00:26:03,667 --> 00:26:06,500 their six-year-old son didn't attend the funeral. 543 00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:09,900 [Shallo] He thinks dying is temporary. 544 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:13,567 Actually, he knows his mom's died. 545 00:26:14,867 --> 00:26:16,467 But yesterday he told me, 546 00:26:16,633 --> 00:26:19,867 "I will come back, and my mom will become alive." 547 00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:25,000 [Hixt] Among the mourners were the police officers 548 00:26:25,166 --> 00:26:27,100 who had investigated her death. 549 00:26:27,867 --> 00:26:30,300 [somber music] 550 00:26:30,467 --> 00:26:32,500 [faint sirens] 551 00:26:38,433 --> 00:26:41,567 As Maryam was taken to her final resting place, 552 00:26:41,734 --> 00:26:44,633 police turned on their lights and sirens. 553 00:26:45,033 --> 00:26:47,734 They provided an escort for the procession, 554 00:26:47,900 --> 00:26:51,133 and a special showing of support for the family. 555 00:26:54,934 --> 00:26:58,400 In the meantime, with Joshua Mitchell in custody, 556 00:26:58,567 --> 00:27:01,133 investigators hoped an interview 557 00:27:01,300 --> 00:27:03,300 might elicit a confession. 558 00:27:03,467 --> 00:27:05,500 [Bangloy] I don't think I've met you before. 559 00:27:05,667 --> 00:27:11,600 I've probably done over 50 accused homicide interviews. 560 00:27:11,767 --> 00:27:14,633 [Hixt] Detective Rey Bangloy does undercover work, 561 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,367 so, we aren't showing his face in the interview. 562 00:27:17,533 --> 00:27:20,333 But I knew he was 20 years old, lived in Calgary, 563 00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:24,734 had a history of kind of minor offenses, 564 00:27:25,233 --> 00:27:28,100 but mainly property crimes, and stealing vehicles. 565 00:27:28,266 --> 00:27:30,567 So, I knew the victim was Maryam Rashidi, 566 00:27:30,734 --> 00:27:33,834 who had only worked at Centex Gas for a short time 567 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,133 after being laid off from an engineering job 568 00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:39,934 in the oil and gas industry, 569 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:44,066 and that about $113 was stolen in a gas drive-away 570 00:27:44,767 --> 00:27:46,934 from the stolen Ford truck. 571 00:27:57,967 --> 00:28:00,467 The interview continued for hours. 572 00:28:00,633 --> 00:28:02,333 [Bangloy] He was respectful. He... 573 00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:05,467 You could tell he was a little bit standoffish, 574 00:28:05,633 --> 00:28:06,967 maybe a little bit nervous. 575 00:28:07,133 --> 00:28:10,266 Obviously he knows that he was there for serious offenses. 576 00:28:10,433 --> 00:28:13,367 So, again, it's just trying to create that environment 577 00:28:13,533 --> 00:28:16,967 where he's, you know, willing to tell the truth. 578 00:28:34,633 --> 00:28:36,867 But it did seem like, you know, 579 00:28:37,033 --> 00:28:39,900 that childhood really kind of scarred him, 580 00:28:40,066 --> 00:28:42,433 and I'm trying to get as much information from him 581 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:46,133 and being able to use that with the interview, 582 00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:48,700 because obviously Ms. Rashidi had a family, 583 00:28:48,867 --> 00:28:52,600 and it was a very emotionally-charged event. 584 00:29:01,834 --> 00:29:04,433 [Bangloy] Making him feel comfortable 585 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:06,467 in the interview is important. 586 00:29:06,633 --> 00:29:10,500 Him being able to trust me was another thing. 587 00:29:10,667 --> 00:29:12,333 So, when asking him questions, 588 00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:13,900 you don't want him to hold back. 589 00:29:14,066 --> 00:29:15,900 What were his true feelings about it? 590 00:29:16,066 --> 00:29:17,533 What were his true thoughts about it? 591 00:29:17,700 --> 00:29:19,834 And he got pretty explicit. 592 00:30:30,667 --> 00:30:35,066 Mitchell reverses, and she ends up jumping onto the hood, 593 00:30:35,233 --> 00:30:36,367 trying to shake her off, 594 00:30:36,533 --> 00:30:40,100 and is trying to, you know, get her to stop. 595 00:30:40,266 --> 00:30:44,200 He did say that he was contemplating using bear spray, 596 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:47,900 but given the time frame and the traffic flow, 597 00:30:48,066 --> 00:30:50,333 he was just-- he wasn't able to react. 598 00:30:51,033 --> 00:30:54,567 Instead, he just chose the way of just taking off, 599 00:30:54,734 --> 00:30:56,266 and hoped that she would fall off. 600 00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:45,066 That's ultimately the goal, too, 601 00:31:45,233 --> 00:31:48,834 is just to try to find out what his mindset was. 602 00:31:49,633 --> 00:31:52,266 And in this case, I think we got to the truth on that, 603 00:31:52,433 --> 00:31:54,400 that he was just trying to get away. 604 00:32:07,667 --> 00:32:10,233 It was a bit of an adrenaline rush, 605 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,333 and as for his mindset, 606 00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:14,934 I think he was just happy he got away. 607 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,033 And then it was only 'til afterwards 608 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,000 that he heard in the news that she ended up dying, 609 00:32:20,166 --> 00:32:22,100 is when I think they kind of panicked. 610 00:32:22,667 --> 00:32:26,367 He cried a few times, and teared up. 611 00:32:35,633 --> 00:32:37,667 [Hixt] Detective Bangloy suggested that Mitchell 612 00:32:37,834 --> 00:32:40,367 write Maryam's family an apology. 613 00:32:40,934 --> 00:32:42,200 In the letter, he said, 614 00:32:42,367 --> 00:32:44,000 "It shouldn't have happened. 615 00:32:44,166 --> 00:32:46,800 We tried to avoid injury to anyone." 616 00:32:47,333 --> 00:32:49,567 He said, "I can't live with myself 617 00:32:49,734 --> 00:32:51,834 knowing what I've done to your family." 618 00:32:52,233 --> 00:32:54,333 Still, Maryam's family wondered 619 00:32:54,500 --> 00:32:57,200 if there would be justice for her death. 620 00:32:59,433 --> 00:33:00,867 [door slamming] 621 00:33:06,834 --> 00:33:07,867 [door slamming] 622 00:33:09,266 --> 00:33:10,433 Welcome back. 623 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:12,934 A crime spree that began with the theft of a vehicle 624 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:15,667 ended with a deadly gas-and-dash. 625 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,834 Witness accounts, surveillance video, 626 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,767 and forensic evidence all pointed to one person. 627 00:33:21,333 --> 00:33:25,100 But was this an unintentional killing or was it murder? 628 00:33:27,333 --> 00:33:29,033 Here, now, is Nancy Hixt 629 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,700 with the conclusion of "A Fatal Decision". 630 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,100 [Hixt] Maryam Rashidi and her husband, 631 00:33:40,266 --> 00:33:42,066 Ahmad Nourani Shallo, 632 00:33:42,233 --> 00:33:44,033 came to Calgary from Iran 633 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,367 to build a better life for their son. 634 00:33:46,767 --> 00:33:48,867 But just months after they arrived, 635 00:33:49,033 --> 00:33:53,066 she was killed as she tried to stop a gas-and-dash. 636 00:33:53,767 --> 00:33:56,266 He speaks about his mom, 637 00:33:56,433 --> 00:34:02,333 and, yeah, he says to me, "Dad, I miss Mom." 638 00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:04,667 [cameras clicking] 639 00:34:06,066 --> 00:34:07,967 [Hixt] Charges against Joshua Mitchell 640 00:34:08,133 --> 00:34:11,300 were upgraded to second-degree murder. 641 00:34:11,967 --> 00:34:15,734 And in April of 2017, he stood trial. 642 00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:17,834 [Hak] The defence had offered a plea to manslaughter, 643 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,433 but the Crown rejected it 644 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,500 on the basis that there was a compelling argument 645 00:34:22,667 --> 00:34:25,734 that the requisite intent for murder was present. 646 00:34:25,900 --> 00:34:28,333 There couldn't really have been more evidence 647 00:34:28,500 --> 00:34:32,834 other than if the truck itself had a dash cam video recorder, 648 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:37,300 because we had video of the crime being committed, 649 00:34:37,467 --> 00:34:40,433 the theft of the fuel, and the truck being driven away. 650 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,567 We had witnesses providing information 651 00:34:43,734 --> 00:34:45,800 as to what occurred on 16th Avenue 652 00:34:45,967 --> 00:34:47,767 and what Maryam Rashidi did. 653 00:34:47,934 --> 00:34:50,233 We had evidence from inside the truck 654 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:55,400 as to what was being said and the mindset of Joshua Mitchell. 655 00:34:55,567 --> 00:34:57,934 And so we had everything that we needed, 656 00:34:58,100 --> 00:35:00,500 and therefore, a very compelling case 657 00:35:00,667 --> 00:35:02,266 to put before the jury. 658 00:35:03,233 --> 00:35:05,734 [Hixt] One by one, witnesses described 659 00:35:05,900 --> 00:35:09,467 the chaotic and devastating scene to jurors. 660 00:35:09,867 --> 00:35:12,300 Two or three times he lurched, 661 00:35:12,467 --> 00:35:14,567 and then she lost her footing. 662 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,500 [Reece] It was just such a big vehicle, it was so big. 663 00:35:19,033 --> 00:35:20,700 It could only end one way, yeah. 664 00:35:21,166 --> 00:35:23,667 [Hixt] The passenger in Mitchell's stolen truck 665 00:35:23,834 --> 00:35:26,700 was also a key witness in the trial. 666 00:35:27,066 --> 00:35:28,667 [Hak] He provided some background 667 00:35:28,834 --> 00:35:30,400 on going into the Centex, 668 00:35:30,567 --> 00:35:35,066 but most importantly, he spoke about what was said 669 00:35:35,433 --> 00:35:40,600 between him and Mitchell in the truck after the theft, 670 00:35:40,767 --> 00:35:44,667 and he also spoke about what he could hear 671 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:50,233 the victim, Ms. Rashidi, saying outside of the vehicle. 672 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:54,467 He saw the look of fear on her face, 673 00:35:54,633 --> 00:35:57,367 and he could also relate to the jury 674 00:35:57,533 --> 00:36:01,233 what it was that Mitchell was saying to her, 675 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:04,767 you know, "Get off the truck", so that he could get away. 676 00:36:05,166 --> 00:36:07,600 So he provided, if I can put it this way, 677 00:36:07,767 --> 00:36:10,300 he provided colour commentary 678 00:36:10,467 --> 00:36:13,734 for what occurred once the theft had been committed 679 00:36:13,900 --> 00:36:17,767 up to and including the time Maryam Rashidi was run over. 680 00:36:18,967 --> 00:36:20,633 [Hixt] Mitchell's own confession 681 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,066 was played in court. 682 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,433 It wasn't probably as the prosecution wanted, 683 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,200 that his attempts to knock her off the vehicle 684 00:36:37,834 --> 00:36:39,734 showed an intention to harm her. 685 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,033 I think it was quite the opposite. 686 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,567 It showed an intention, look, I don't want to harm you, 687 00:36:44,734 --> 00:36:46,867 so I'm trying to get you off this thing. 688 00:36:47,033 --> 00:36:49,166 [Hixt] Defence conceded Mitchell stole 689 00:36:49,333 --> 00:36:51,533 the Ford F-350 truck 690 00:36:51,700 --> 00:36:54,667 he was driving when Maryam Rashidi was run over. 691 00:36:54,834 --> 00:36:59,667 He was very proud of having that particular stolen truck. 692 00:36:59,834 --> 00:37:01,200 It had a lot of power, 693 00:37:01,367 --> 00:37:04,533 and he spoke a lot about how powerful the truck was, 694 00:37:04,700 --> 00:37:07,433 and he certainly drove it that day in a way 695 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:10,266 that suggested he knew how much power it had, 696 00:37:10,433 --> 00:37:14,367 which made his use of that vehicle as a weapon 697 00:37:14,533 --> 00:37:15,800 all the more aggravating. 698 00:37:16,266 --> 00:37:20,800 [Hixt] He also admitted to the theft of $113 worth of fuel, 699 00:37:20,967 --> 00:37:22,900 and the charge of hit and run, 700 00:37:23,066 --> 00:37:27,567 but defence insisted it was manslaughter, not murder. 701 00:37:27,734 --> 00:37:30,266 However, the prosecution told jurors 702 00:37:30,433 --> 00:37:33,033 Maryam's death was no accident, 703 00:37:33,567 --> 00:37:35,100 and said Mitchell had the power 704 00:37:35,266 --> 00:37:37,600 of life and death over her, 705 00:37:37,767 --> 00:37:39,200 and he chose death. 706 00:37:40,066 --> 00:37:42,600 [Hak] But the jury had a very difficult decision. 707 00:37:42,767 --> 00:37:47,333 The jury could easily find that Joshua Mitchell, 708 00:37:47,700 --> 00:37:52,433 by driving the way he did, intended to cause bodily harm, 709 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:54,467 knowing that death was a likely result, 710 00:37:54,633 --> 00:37:57,533 and was reckless as to whether or not death ensued, 711 00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:01,133 because he was clearly going to get her off the vehicle 712 00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:04,300 no matter what the consequences. 713 00:38:05,500 --> 00:38:10,166 Conversely, the jury also had a compelling argument 714 00:38:10,333 --> 00:38:12,266 that he wasn't really trying to hurt her. 715 00:38:12,433 --> 00:38:15,467 He just wanted her to get off the vehicle, 716 00:38:15,633 --> 00:38:17,367 and that's what they would have struggled with 717 00:38:17,533 --> 00:38:19,100 in the jury room, 718 00:38:19,266 --> 00:38:23,633 the Crown's theory of intent and the defence's theory 719 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:27,200 that this was an unintentional event. 720 00:38:27,367 --> 00:38:30,133 And I think because he was still a young man 721 00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:33,700 and really looked like a young man in the prisoner's dock, 722 00:38:33,867 --> 00:38:36,166 that would have weighed heavily on the jury. 723 00:38:36,333 --> 00:38:38,166 He certainly wasn't a hardened criminal, 724 00:38:38,333 --> 00:38:40,266 nor did he look like a hardened criminal. 725 00:38:41,166 --> 00:38:43,767 The jury is now at a hotel for the night. 726 00:38:43,934 --> 00:38:45,934 They deliberated for nearly six hours 727 00:38:46,100 --> 00:38:48,133 after hearing closing arguments from 728 00:38:48,300 --> 00:38:50,100 both the Crown and defence. 729 00:38:50,266 --> 00:38:51,734 They are tasked with deciding 730 00:38:51,900 --> 00:38:56,000 if the death of Maryam Rashidi was manslaughter or murder. 731 00:38:56,166 --> 00:38:58,033 [Hixt] Ten and a half hours later, 732 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:00,200 they reached a verdict. 733 00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:02,567 A Calgary man has been convicted of manslaughter 734 00:39:02,734 --> 00:39:04,667 in a fatal gas-and-dash case. 735 00:39:04,834 --> 00:39:08,734 Joshua Mitchell admitted stealing $113 worth of gas, 736 00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:11,600 and running over and killing a gas station attendant. 737 00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:15,633 Tonight, her widower says justice has not been served. 738 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:17,667 Nancy Hixt is live at the courthouse, 739 00:39:17,834 --> 00:39:20,100 and Nancy, the Crown wanted second-degree murder. 740 00:39:20,266 --> 00:39:21,467 The jury, though, found Mitchell 741 00:39:21,633 --> 00:39:23,166 guilty of the lesser charge. 742 00:39:23,567 --> 00:39:25,734 Gord, several of the jurors were in tears 743 00:39:25,900 --> 00:39:27,934 as the decision was delivered today. 744 00:39:28,100 --> 00:39:29,700 This was quite obviously a very difficult 745 00:39:29,867 --> 00:39:31,367 decision for them to make, 746 00:39:31,533 --> 00:39:32,700 and in the end they found 747 00:39:32,867 --> 00:39:35,066 that this was manslaughter, not murder. 748 00:39:35,233 --> 00:39:36,700 That comes down to intent, 749 00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:38,633 and the jury didn't believe Mitchell 750 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:40,567 intended to kill Rashidi. 751 00:39:41,166 --> 00:39:43,233 [Hixt] Rashidi's husband was devastated to hear 752 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:45,166 the verdict, and told Global News... 753 00:39:54,066 --> 00:39:56,300 I think people mistakenly believe 754 00:39:56,467 --> 00:39:58,233 that being a juror is easy. 755 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:00,033 It's really hard when you have to sit 756 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:02,300 in judgment of a fellow citizen, 757 00:40:02,467 --> 00:40:04,300 and it was clearly very difficult for 758 00:40:04,467 --> 00:40:05,967 this jury to do what they did. 759 00:40:06,500 --> 00:40:09,533 [Hixt] Mitchell again apologized to Maryam's family, 760 00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:12,900 and said if he could trade places with her, he would. 761 00:40:15,266 --> 00:40:17,600 Her brother and mother had traveled from Iran 762 00:40:17,767 --> 00:40:19,567 to attend his sentencing, 763 00:40:19,734 --> 00:40:23,033 and heard his expression of remorse firsthand. 764 00:40:23,734 --> 00:40:25,567 [speaking another language] 765 00:40:25,734 --> 00:40:28,600 [sister] We couldn't be for the trial before here, 766 00:40:28,767 --> 00:40:32,200 but we did all the best to come here for this day 767 00:40:32,900 --> 00:40:35,633 to show Maryam that we support him, and... 768 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:38,200 and we wanted to be for her here. 769 00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:43,767 The court imposed a sentence of 11 years, 770 00:40:43,934 --> 00:40:46,100 consisting of 10 years for the manslaughter, 771 00:40:46,266 --> 00:40:48,700 concurrent sentences for the lesser offenses, 772 00:40:48,867 --> 00:40:51,166 and one year consecutive for the hit and run, 773 00:40:51,333 --> 00:40:53,867 and then a lifetime driving prohibition. 774 00:40:54,767 --> 00:40:56,233 [Hixt] Mitchell appealed, 775 00:40:56,400 --> 00:41:00,333 and the driving prohibition was reduced to 10 years. 776 00:41:00,734 --> 00:41:04,066 So that he would have some hope of rehabilitation in the future 777 00:41:04,233 --> 00:41:06,533 and some hope of getting on in society. 778 00:41:06,934 --> 00:41:10,400 And it just seemed to me that he was likely 779 00:41:10,567 --> 00:41:11,900 going to be someone whose shadow 780 00:41:12,066 --> 00:41:15,100 would never darken a courthouse door again. 781 00:41:16,333 --> 00:41:18,533 [leader speaking another language] 782 00:41:18,700 --> 00:41:21,867 [Hixt] A graveside service was held following the trial, 783 00:41:22,033 --> 00:41:25,033 on Mother's Day of 2017. 784 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,266 She felt something wrong was happening, 785 00:41:27,433 --> 00:41:28,800 and she was trying to correct it. 786 00:41:34,700 --> 00:41:37,266 Yeah, it happened right around here. 787 00:41:37,433 --> 00:41:40,166 [Hixt] Maryam's death continues to impact 788 00:41:40,333 --> 00:41:44,100 the witnesses and police officers who investigated 789 00:41:44,266 --> 00:41:45,834 the deadly hit and run. 790 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:47,700 I think about it every time I drive by. 791 00:41:47,867 --> 00:41:49,467 I'll look in the parking lot, 792 00:41:49,633 --> 00:41:51,633 and I can sometimes see the truck, 793 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:54,266 driving through the parking lot quite fast. 794 00:41:54,433 --> 00:41:56,100 I look at things a bit differently now. 795 00:41:56,266 --> 00:41:57,533 At first glance, this looks like, 796 00:41:57,700 --> 00:41:59,800 you know, this is a horrible thing. 797 00:41:59,967 --> 00:42:02,734 That person should, you know, justice should be served. 798 00:42:02,900 --> 00:42:04,233 I don't know, I found a bit of compassion, 799 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:05,533 I think, for the offender. 800 00:42:05,700 --> 00:42:09,200 I really did, and I think there is room for both. 801 00:42:09,367 --> 00:42:15,900 I think there is room for... compassion for both. 802 00:42:17,166 --> 00:42:18,967 Yeah, sorry, it's really emotional. 803 00:42:19,834 --> 00:42:22,934 In our office, we had the front page of the Sun, 804 00:42:23,100 --> 00:42:27,000 which showed Maryam with the title, 805 00:42:27,467 --> 00:42:29,500 "She died for $113." 806 00:42:30,700 --> 00:42:32,200 It serves as a constant reminder 807 00:42:32,367 --> 00:42:36,200 for the team that I lead. 808 00:42:36,367 --> 00:42:38,333 That's why we do what we do. 809 00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:40,033 We can speak for the victims. 810 00:42:40,200 --> 00:42:42,133 We can speak for the family. 811 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:46,166 We can answer the who, what, when, where, 812 00:42:46,333 --> 00:42:48,433 hopefully the why for the families. 813 00:42:51,166 --> 00:42:53,266 [Hixt] But no one was more impacted 814 00:42:53,433 --> 00:42:55,300 than her husband and son. 815 00:42:58,734 --> 00:43:02,233 They left Calgary shortly after she was killed. 816 00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:06,633 He said it was simply too hard to be in the city without her. 817 00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:09,000 Ahmad eventually remarried. 818 00:43:09,166 --> 00:43:12,500 His new wife became a mother to Koroosh. 819 00:43:13,166 --> 00:43:16,834 But this case took another devastating turn. 820 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:20,533 They had planned to return to visit Maryam's grave. 821 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:23,100 But on the drive from B.C. to Calgary, 822 00:43:23,266 --> 00:43:26,200 on the Trans-Canada Highway near Golden, 823 00:43:26,367 --> 00:43:30,133 Ahmad, his new wife, and Koroosh were involved 824 00:43:30,300 --> 00:43:32,266 in a tragic car crash. 825 00:43:32,700 --> 00:43:36,066 Exactly two years after losing his mother, 826 00:43:36,233 --> 00:43:40,266 Maryam's little boy witnessed his father's death. 827 00:43:42,133 --> 00:43:44,000 Again, you've got family who come 828 00:43:44,166 --> 00:43:46,000 to Canada for a better life. 829 00:43:47,967 --> 00:43:51,700 And both parties, or mom and dad, husband, wife, 830 00:43:53,033 --> 00:43:56,500 are killed in two separate collisions. 831 00:43:56,667 --> 00:44:01,367 Losing one parent in a traffic collision is-- is horrific. 832 00:44:01,533 --> 00:44:04,767 But then to lose both parents? 833 00:44:04,934 --> 00:44:07,200 Yeah, it's-- the whole situation 834 00:44:07,367 --> 00:44:09,700 is just, it's horrible. 835 00:44:09,867 --> 00:44:11,467 I mean, it really is horrible. 836 00:44:13,367 --> 00:44:15,233 [Hixt] Since the death of his father, 837 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:17,300 Koroosh and his stepmother 838 00:44:17,467 --> 00:44:19,533 have built a new life together. 839 00:44:19,934 --> 00:44:22,900 She continues to honour what Ahmad and Maryam 840 00:44:23,066 --> 00:44:25,233 had always wanted for their son, 841 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:27,633 to be raised in Canada. 842 00:44:31,033 --> 00:44:32,834 [Robart] A law requiring motorists 843 00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:34,700 to pay before they pump 844 00:44:34,867 --> 00:44:37,567 came into effect in Alberta in 2018, 845 00:44:37,734 --> 00:44:41,233 three years after Maryam Rashidi was killed. 846 00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:45,333 Joshua Mitchell was released on day parole in 2020. 847 00:44:45,500 --> 00:44:48,900 Six months later, he was granted full parole. 848 00:44:49,066 --> 00:44:51,100 Maryam's son is an honour student, 849 00:44:51,266 --> 00:44:54,400 and graduates from high school in 2027. 850 00:44:56,100 --> 00:44:58,100 Thank you for joining us tonight on Crime Beat. 851 00:44:58,266 --> 00:44:59,467 I'm Antony Robart. 852 00:45:01,300 --> 00:45:03,000 Want more episodes of Crime Beat? 853 00:45:03,166 --> 00:45:05,200 Listen to the Crime Beat podcast, 854 00:45:05,367 --> 00:45:07,567 now for free on Apple Podcasts, 855 00:45:07,734 --> 00:45:10,967 Spotify or wherever you find your favourite podcast. 856 00:45:11,133 --> 00:45:13,400 And for past episodes of Crime Beat, 857 00:45:13,567 --> 00:45:17,400 go to the Global TV app, visit GlobalTV.com 858 00:45:17,567 --> 00:45:20,867 or check out our Crime Beat YouTube page. 859 00:45:21,967 --> 00:45:25,000 ♪