Guilty verdict in 29-year-old Calgary homicide

A Calgary man has been convicted of first-degree murder nearly 30 years after he fatally shot two men during a break-in.

Leonard Brian Cochrane, 53, was arrested in 2020 and charged in the deaths of Barry Buchart, 26, and Trevor Deakins, 25, who were killed in 1994 in their home in the southeast community of Radisson Heights.

Both victims were shot "at point blank range," the judge noted in his 48-page decision released Friday.

The once-cold case was solved with the help of genetic genealogical investigative techniques. Investigators, headed by Det. Ken Carrier, tracked down family members of the suspect, which ultimately led to Cochrane's arrest after his DNA was matched to blood found at the crime scene.

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On Friday, Justice Keith Yamauchiagreed with prosecutors Carla MacPhailand James Thomas, findingCochrane was one of two masked men who broke into Buchart and Deakins' home on July 11, 1994, and fatally shot the two victims.

At the time, Buchart sold marijuana.

Cochrane claimed he was a victim

Cochrane never denied he was in the home that night but testified he was there to buy drugs when two masked and armed men "barged into" the home demanding drugs and money, painting himself as a surviving victim.

In several instances when comparing the evidence to the accused's testimony, Yamauchi said he "does not believe" Cochrane.

"Nothing, other than Mr. Cochrane's own testimony, suggests that a fifth individual, an unidentified and unknown intruder, existed," said Yamauchi.

"There is only one reasonable conclusion, and that is the four-man explanation for what transpired in the residence."

Struggle, gunshots heard by neighbours

Yamauchi said, based on the evidence, he was satisfied Cochrane "was one of the intruders."

The night they were killed, neighbours heard sounds of a struggle just after 1:30 a.m.

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Mark Nortcliffe, one of the other residents of the fourplex, was hanging out with the victims earlier in the night but returned to his suite and went to bed around 11:30 p.m.

Nortcliffe told police he was awoken by a commotion; screaming and barking dogs. He said a masked man ran into his bedroom, told him to stay in bed and looked out the window before returning to the downstairs apartment.

More sounds of a fight followed.

'I'm dying'

Nortcliffe heard screaming about money.

Then, gunshots.

Buchart could be heard yelling, "I'm dying, I'm dying."

A first-degree murder charge comes with a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Defence lawyers Balfour Der and James McLeod say they have instructions from Cochrane to appeal Yamauchi's decision.

Just last week, a second suspect, Stuart Douglass MacGregor, 54, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. A trial date has not yet been set.