The first of two teens charged with killing Barry Pruden is in the midst of his murder trial. (file photo)

By Susan McNeil/Nigel Maxwell

Barry Pruden homicide

No help for daughter following dad’s homicide near Georgie’s

Apr 13, 2023 | 9:00 AM

When Skye Pruden last saw her father alive, he was walking backwards down River Street, swinging a garden tool with a claw end at several attackers.

Pruden was one of several witnesses called today for the Crown as the murder trial of the first of two teens charged with Barry Pruden’s death entered its second day.

“I wish I could have done something differently. I started crying and asking for help. No one would help me. I went inside Georgie’s and asked for help, but they told me to ‘f*** off,’” said Skye.

Skye and her dad had ridden their bikes to Georgie’s to buy a pipe so they could smoke drugs and then were going to a friend of her dad’s.

They were riding down River Street when they were approached by people she did not know, Skye testified on April 12 in Prince Albert Provincial Court.

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One youth approached and asked her dad his name then asked Skye what her name was. At first it was just the one teen who approached while a second teen waited nearby.

“Before I could react, my dad freaked out. He said ‘that’s my daughter’,” said Skye. She said her dad was very protective of her and with her epilepsy, she was his miracle child.

After the conflict began, the other youth came over as did another that had been standing on the riverbank with several other people.

Looking for help, Skye went first to Georgie’s and after being turned away, another nearby store.

She then went back to where she had left her father, but the police had arrived and she was not allowed to go to where she could see her dad lying on the ground.

Yesterday in the second day of the trial, forensic investigator Const. Logan testified that he had found blood droplets at the scene and a number of footwear impressions.

The victim had stab wounds to his chest, other injuries to his body and still had his wallet with him.

He also said that the first of the two accused turned himself in to police.

Carlon Custer told the court yesterday that he was driving west on River Street on May 28, 2022 when he saw the group standing around Pruden.

Feeling something was wrong he turned around and drove by a second time and saw Pruden on ground and people running away. He then called police.

All of the youth were wearing black and white clothing.

The testimony of the adopted father of the second accused, who’s trial has not yet happened, said he saw a wound on the hand of his son.

The second accused and his friends had been drinking and then headed out as a group, early enough on the day that there was still daylight.

The group came back later that night, including his son and first accused.

“They were kind of agitated. They said someone had tried to rob them,” he testified. One of the two accused was getting his hand bandaged.

The whole group dressed in black and white, said the father.

The trial resumes tomorrow morning with one of the initial decisions on evidence given during a voir dire.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com