In a court hearing on Monday, February 26, 2024, Solaimane Elbettah, a 28-year-old man from Morocco, confessed to taking the life of Josh Burns, a 19-year-old fellow employee, citing frequent demonic whispers as his motivation.
The chilling event unfolded on July 4, 2022, in the small community of Sundre, Alberta, Canada, at a local McDonald’s where both individuals were employed, causing considerable distress within the town.
Elbettah, who moved to Canada in 2018, had held several positions in the fast-food industry and delivery services before securing a job at the McDonald’s on Main Avenue in Sundre.
During his courtroom testimony, under the guidance of defense lawyer Pawel Milczarek, Elbettah provided a complex explanation of his belief in angels, demons, and spirits. He characterized angels as protectors of humanity and order, while he attributed discord to demonic entities. In his account, these demons communicated through whispers, which he contends significantly influenced the circumstances leading to Burns’ death.
The defense is preparing to argue that due to a mental disorder, Elbettah should be considered not criminally responsible (NCR), stating he was unable to grasp the moral repercussions of his actions at the time of the incident.
If the presiding Court of King’s Bench Justice Glen Poelman finds this argument credible, Elbettah could potentially be housed in a secure psychiatric facility instead of a prison.
Elbettah’s narrative of the events on the night of the murder is deeply unsettling. He alleged to have been persistently plagued by demonic whispers, which escalated until the dreadful event. The accused alleges that these malevolent forces exploited his colleagues, including Burns, to heighten his torment. Elbettah suggested a dark influence behind his actions, stating, “I’m a threat to them.”
On the night of July 3, 2022, extending into the early hours of July 4, Elbettah and Burns were the only employees working the night shift. Moments before the incident, the two took a brief smoking break outside the restaurant.
Afterward, Elbettah turned off the drive-thru service and left the McDonald’s to retrieve a machete from his motel room across the street. Upon returning, he attacked Burns, inflicting an approximately 11-inch-long wound on his neck, as detailed in the agreed-upon statement of facts.
Elbettah left Burns on the restaurant’s floor. In the subsequent hours, he sent messages to the McDonald’s manager, advising her to call the police.
His message stated, “A murder has occurred at the restaurant; do not enter alone,” and continued, “My apologies for everything. He insulted me, believing he was superior because of his race.”
Eventually, Elbettah placed a call to 911 from a nearby field. During the 25-minute call, which prosecutor Vince Pingitore presented in full to the court, he told the 911 operator, “I want to turn myself in. I killed someone.”
The defense team plans to reinforce its not criminally responsible argument by calling three additional witnesses, including Elbettah’s brother, a friend, and a forensic psychiatrist.
The defense’s strategy aims to provide a holistic view of Elbettah’s mental status, supporting their claim of his inability to understand the moral consequences of his actions at the time.