Murder accused professes innocence on witness stand 

By Sam Pazzano

Nahor Araya testified in his own defence at his murder trial Thursday. (Supplied photo)

TORONTO - A young man accused of murdering a 17-year-old youth during a gang robbery testified Thursday he fabricated a story of a robbery to compel a teacher to help him find a suitable home.
Nahor Araya proclaimed his innocence on the witness stand where he testified he was with his girlfriend at his friend’s home, eight kilometres away from Buttonwood Park where a robber fatally shot Boris Cikovic on Oct. 3, 2008.
“I didn’t do it. I wasn’t there,” Araya, 21, told the jury at his second-degree murder trial. He has pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution is alleging three or four young masked men — including Araya — robbed a large group of teenagers hanging out in the park near Eglinton Ave. and Scarlett Rd.
The Crown alleges Araya was one of the robbers — but not the gunman — and is therefore guilty as a party to murder of the 17-year-old Cikovic.
Araya, who used to wear his hair in an Afro, is now sporting a clean-shaven head.
On the tragic night that the Cikovic was shot, Araya testified he was at a friend’s house, smoking grass with his girlfriend and then sleeping over.
The centrepiece of the prosecution’s case is the testimony of Araya’s former high school English teacher at Silverthorn Collegiate, Cordel Browne.
He testified that four days after the shooting Araya approached him and confessed to being at the scene but insisted he was not the shooter.
Araya was living in a shelter, which he loathed, and he hoped this story would convince the sympathetic teacher to help him land a new home.
“It made no sense, but it’s the truth (that the story was concocted). I was in a really bad place and I just panicked,” Araya testified.
Araya said he never thought he would end up charged with second-degree murder after his phony “confession.”
He was later stunned to learn that Browne had reported to police he had confessed to participating in the murderous robbery.
Crown attorney Patrick Travers repeatedly questioned Araya’s explanation and silence. Travers asked him why he didn’t assert his innocence to his teacher and others, revealing that his confession was false.
Araya replied he had remained silent because his lawyer advised him to do so.
The trial continues Friday.