The trial for a man charged with attempted murder began this morning in Red Deer’s provincial court.

Andrew Snow is charged with one count of attempted murder after an incident at his mobile home in September 2015, west of Sylvan Lake.

It is alleged that Snow shot his friend Richard Koehl multiple times after Koehl dropped him off at his residence on Sept. 17th, 2015.

Koehl was the first crown witness to testify in the trial on Monday. The trial is expected to continue through until Friday.

Koehl, 34, told the court that he first met Snow two years ago through mutual friends.

On Sept. 15th, the pair left for Kelowna as Koehl had a family matter there to attend to. He testified that before the trip, they picked up marijuana and some cocaine adding that Snow did cocaine periodically throughout the trip.

On Sept. 17th, 2015, between 7:30-8 a.m., Koehl said he was dropping Snow off at his residence after returning home.

“We checked out the house to make sure it was safe and that no one was in there waiting for him (Snow),” said Koehl, adding that Snow seemed, “A little scattered” and assumed he was not sober at the time.

Koehl added that after checking the house, he went to see what Snow was doing.

“He was standing there and shot at me. I saw sparks from the gun and a big hole in me,” he said, adding he was shot four times – once in the abdomen, once in the left forearm, once in the shoulder and once in the back. “I ran and was yelling, ‘No Andrew, no!’

“I never expected to see him there.”

Koehl said he ran to a nearby residence to seek help and heard Snow take off in a vehicle down the driveway.

Meanwhile on Monday, an RCMP officer who is the second crown witness was scheduled to testify. For the defense’s case, there are six civilians and six police officers set to testify this week, as well as testimony from Snow expected.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com