Quinton Gardiner has been in custody since August, 2024. (Image Credit: Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

‘I couldn’t breathe’: Victim’s daughter testifies at Prince Albert murder trial

Jun 15, 2026 | 8:43 PM

A young woman said the image of seeing her father lying on the back step of their family’s home covered in blood, continues to cause her nightmares.

Karissa Wenzel-Smith was the Crown’s first witness at the Quinton Gardiner murder trial, which commenced Monday at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert.

Gardiner was one of two men charged in the death of Norman Wenzel on Canada Day, 2024. Around 2 a.m., members of the Prince Albert Police Service were called to a home on Kemp Crescent and found Wenzel, 41, suffering from serious injuries. He was transported to hospital where he died.

Karissa testified on the night of June 30, she had come home around 11 p.m. and her father paid for her cab ride. Around midnight, while she was upstairs getting ready for bed, she heard what sounded like groaning noises coming from the backyard area and someone was crying for help. When she gathered the strength to look outside the back door, she saw her father lying on the step.

“He looked broken,” she said, through tears. “I couldn’t breathe.”

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Karissa was also one of two family members who spoke to the 9-1-1 dispatcher. During the call that was played for the jury, she can be heard sobbing and pleading for someone to come help her dad. One of the final questions posted to Karissa from prosecutor Manmeet Rai was how the incident has impacted her.

“It was really hard and it was really hard for me to go back to the house,” she said through tears.

Norman Wenzel. (Image Credit: Facebook.)

Two weeks have been set aside for the jury trial and on Tuesday, Karissa will be cross-examined by defence lawyer Patrick McDougall.

As per Crown prosecutor Rai’s opening statement, his case will include video and audio recordings, as well as testimony from police officers and first responders.

At the time of the incident, Normal Wenzel was sleeping in the garage of his parent’s home.

Neighbours who previously spoke to paNOW said the home on Kemp Crescent had been a source of continuous problems and had been visited by police in the past.

Also charged in the case is Rylan Hansen, whose matters are still at the pre-trial stage. His next scheduled hearing is Aug. 7.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

‘I couldn’t breathe’: Victim’s daughter testifies at Prince Albert murder trial

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