WITNESS ADMITS TO WITHHOLDING KEY INFORMATION

A key Crown witness in a first-degree murder trial admits he withheld
pivotal information from police because he was scared of retaliation
from the accused killer.

"I was scared to death," said Aaron Shellrude, who was called to
testify Monday against his former drug-dealing partner and roommate,
Clayton Korski.

Korski, 25, admitted he planned to set up the victim, Wilson Martinez,
for a drug deal in the playground of a Winnipeg elementary school and
then confront him at gunpoint, according to Shellrude.

"He said he was gonna rob him," he said.

But Shellrude, 27, claims he met Korski later that September 2004
night and learned Martinez, 20, had been shot and killed in what
Korski admitted was a planned hit all along.

"He said he was bleeding out of his mouth and neck on the ground,"
said Shellrude.

Korski began his trial last week by pleading not guilty to Martinez's
slaying, which occurred on the grounds of Heritage School near Ness
Avenue and Sturgeon Road.

Shellrude was initially arrested along with Korski but never charged.
He quickly left Manitoba after his release and eventually gave police
a much more detailed statement about Korski's alleged
involvement.

"Not until I was out of the province and my safety was guaranteed
would I give the whole truth," Shellrude said Monday under intense
cross-examination from defence lawyer David Guttman.

Shellrude's credibility was repeatedly called into question by Guttman
based on his different version of events given to police.

Martinez was a local drug pusher who met with Korski during the late
morning of Sept. 15, 2004, for the purpose of setting up a crack deal,
jurors heard last week.

The two men had previously done business and agreed to get together
later that night once Martinez had 13 ounces of cocaine and Korski had
the $12,000 cash needed to buy it.

Martinez arrived at the school just before 11 p.m. and brought along
one of his good friends for backup, said Crown attorney Carla Dewar.
The friend -- who is expected to testify -- remained in the vehicle
while Martinez walked towards the play structure.

The friend saw a dark, shadowy figure approach Martinez, followed
almost immediately by the sounds of a loud "pop".

The gunman then began charging towards the waiting vehicle, prompting
the friend to speed away. He called some other associates, and they
returned to the scene a short while later to check on Martinez.

Martinez was rushed to hospital and pronounced dead. An autopsy
revealed he suffered a single bullet wound to the head from close range.

The trial continues.