There were drinking games at the birthday bash held that winter night at an Airbnb in Fort Erie.
Then the fun was shattered by murder.
On Jan. 19, 2021, Juliana Pannunzio, 20, of Windsor, and Christine Crooks, 18, of Toronto, were shot and killed.
Police say it took 80 minutes for one of the 16 partygoers to dial 911. By that time, it was too late.
On Thursday, two Scarborough residents pleaded guilty to obstruction charges in connection to the horrific crime.
“I am not the same person I was after walking into that house,” Heidi Bahler, 32, wrote to the court. “That night has impacted my life, and my family’s life, significantly.”
Bahler pleaded guilty to a single charge of obstruction of justice.
It was Bahler who was hosting the bash for her pal Trevor Barnett. She did not know Pannunzio or Crooks, court heard, as per CTV News.
“We played the game ‘Never Have I Ever’ and other drinking games,” Bahler testified. “We all got along, and we were really enjoying our time and we were laughing.”
She added: “I don’t know what led up to the events of this disgusting crime.”
Bahler said she heard gunshots shortly before 3 a.m. while she waited outside for a food delivery. She did not go back into the notorious Niagara Pkwy. home but instead waited for the food.
When she re-entered, she saw the bodies of Crooks and Pannunzio. More than an hour later, she called 911 to report the double shooting.
The Crown suggested that Bahler offered up false information to the cops. The next day she lied to homicide detectives that she didn’t know the partygoers, except for one friend.
Bahler later told police she panicked and didn’t know what to do, so she split. In the meantime, she was in constant contact with Barnett lining up their stories.
In Bahler’s statement, read by her lawyer, she said: “There is a lot I would like to speak on but ultimately, I know nothing compares to the death of a child. There’s no words I can say to take away that pain you felt and always will feel. I am sorry. I am sorry for your losses, and I hope you get the justice you deserve.”
Barnett also pleaded guilty to obstruction for his role in counselling others to lie to cops. Crown attorney Jody Ostapiw called Barnett the “puppet master.”
According to prosecutors, it took detectives eight months to make arrests. The obstruction weighed heavily on the grieving families.
Tearful victim impact statements drove home the horror of that terrible day.
“Where is the ‘girl code’?” Juliana’s ‘bonus mom,’ Shellie Pannunzio, asked Bahler, as reported by CTV. “I understand that you may not have known our daughter before this fateful night, but regardless, how do you not feel a sense of duty to tell the truth for another female that was been wronged?”
Her stepfather, Chris Mulcaster added: “Witnesses, including those who saw the victims lying wounded and bleeding, have lied to police and tampered with evidence. This suggests a level of complicity that is incomprehensible.”
Juliana’s mom Lisa Mulcaster said: “You should feel shame. Do I believe you should receive a lenient sentence? No, I do not and not just because I’m her mother. But because your continued behaviour and refusal to cooperate does not convince me that you are reformed. I fear you will continue to live the life that has gotten you here in the first place.”
Christine Crooks’ dad said: “As a father, I tried to protect her and give her a stable home to be raised in. I never got to say my goodbyes. It hurts me so much that I could not protect her.”
Barnett’s lawyer claimed he didn’t lie to protect the accused triggerman but instead feared the double murder would be pinned on him. He looked directly at the families and apologized.
He said: “I made their suffering much worse. I can’t imagine the pain you’ve been going through over the course of this case.”
Both were sentenced to time served and are now serving two years probation.
Accused triggerman, Scarborough rapper Christopher “El Plaga” Lucas, is slated to go on trial for first-degree murder next October.
@HunterTOSun