Witness heard shot that hit German tourist but says he was high on meth and vodka

A witness to the shooting of a German tourist driving down an Alberta highway says he remembers hearing a loud clap, but is unable to say who pulled the trigger.

The man was testifying at the trial of his brother a teenager from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation who was charged last August after aGerman tourist was shot in the head by someone in a passing car west of Calgary.

Horst Stewin survived, but suffered debilitating injuries. Stewin, 61, isparalyzed on his right side and still has trouble speaking after eight bullet fragments were removed from his brain last summer.

A 17-year-old is on trial, facing charges of aggravated assault, assault, and three firearms-related offences.His identity is protected by a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The witness one of three people in the car with the teen that day told the court in Calgary that they were all high on meth and vodka. He testified that he was in and out of consciousness during the drive.

He said he remembers the driver saying something and then hearing what he realized might have been a gunshot, but he didn't see who fired.

The witness said he remembers the tourist's head hit the steering wheel before his SUV veered into the ditch.

Birthday celebration

Stewin, his wife, his son and his son's girlfriend were in Canada celebrating his 60th birthday when he was shot.

The family had stopped to take photos near the Morley rodeo grounds, about 55 kilometres west of Calgary. As they pulled back onto Highway 1A, their black SUV was overtaken by another vehicle.

As the car pulled up beside the family, Stewin who was driving was shot once in the head, causing him to veer off into a ditch and crash into a tree.

• German tourist shot in head near Calgary still requires 24/7 care

Stewin was airlifted to hospital but the bullet could not be safely removed from his head.

After a two-week stay, the victim was flown back to Germany, where doctors successfully removed the fragments.

The accused was arrestedon the Stoney Nakoda First Nation west of Calgary about three weeks after the shooting.

Last year, the teen was released on bail but breached his release conditions and was re-arrested.

He is currently in custody.

Provincial court Judge George Gaschler is presiding over the seven-day trial.