Creba witness forced to testify

A man who could be akey witness in the trials of men charged in the killing of Jane Creba believes he is in danger after a judge ordered him to testify.

Richard Steele, 20, who is serving a jail sentence on weapon and gun convictions yelled at Justice Ian Nordheimer that he fears for his life and those ofhis family if he testifies against the 10 men accused of murder and manslaughter.

Police believe he was standing beside the 15-year-old moments before she was killed in a hail of gunfire while shopping in downtown Toronto on Dec. 26, 2005. He was issued a subpoena by the Crown to testify at a preliminary hearing set to begin on May 1.

"I hope you are happy. You just killed me. That is what you did," he shouted at Nordheimer after the judge rejected his lawyer's motion to quash the order, according to the National Post. "This is justice at its best."

Steele's lawyer, Selwyn Pieters, said his client fears for his life while in jail because other prisoners may view him as a rat, considered one of the most serious offences for those behind bars.

"The officials have a responsibility and their responsibility is to make sure that people in prison are safe," Pieters told CBC News. "There will be a high price to pay, where the officials are concerned, if anything should happen to Mr. Steele."

After Nordheimer's ruling, documents including an investigator's affidavit describing the series of events surrounding Creba's death were filed with the Ontario Superior Court.

Also included is a phone call intercepted on a wiretap on which a man police believe is Steele describes standing beside Creba on Yonge Street moments before the shooting began.