On February 26, 2024, Solaimane Elbettah, a 28-year-old Moroccan native, confessed during a court hearing to the murder of his co-worker, 19-year-old Josh Burns. He attributed his actions to incessant whispers from demons.
The crime that shocked the small community of Sundre, Alberta, Canada, took place on July 4, 2022, at a local McDonald’s where both men were working.
Elbettah, who moved to Canada in 2018, held various fast-food and delivery jobs before finally working at the McDonald’s on Main Avenue in Sundre.
Under questioning from his defense lawyer, Pawel Milczarek, Elbettah offered a perplexing testimony about his beliefs in angels, demons, and spirits. He depicted angels as protectors of humanity and order, while he insisted that demons are instigators of chaos. Elbettah further stated that the demons communicated through whispers, a factor he believes to be pivotal in the events leading up to the death of Burns.
The defense is expected to argue that due to a mental disorder, Elbettah should be considered not criminally responsible (NCR), claiming he was unable to understand the moral wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the murder.
If Court of King’s Bench Justice Glen Poelman finds this argument convincing, Elbettah may end up in a secure psychiatric facility instead of a prison.
Elbettah’s recounting of the night of the murder is chilling. He stated that he was continuously plagued by demonic whispers that escalated, ultimately leading to the tragic event. Elbettah alleges that these malevolent entities used his co-workers, including Burns, to exacerbate his torment. “I’m a threat to them,” he suggested, implying a dark influence behind his actions.
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. Shortly before the incident, they took a smoke break outside the establishment.
After their break, Elbettah turned off the drive-thru service and left the restaurant to retrieve a machete from his motel across the street. Upon his return, he attacked Burns, causing a severe neck wound roughly 11 inches long, as outlined 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, urging her to call the police.
His message stated, “A murder has occurred at the restaurant; do not enter alone,” and added, “My apologies for everything. He insulted me, believing he was superior because of his race.”
Eventually, Elbettah dialed 911 from a nearby field. During the 25-minute call, which Judge Pingitore presented in full to the court, he confessed to the 911 operator, stating, “I want to turn myself in. I killed someone.”
The defense intends to strengthen its not criminally responsible argument with testimonies from three additional witnesses, including Elbettah’s brother, a friend, and a forensic psychiatrist.
This strategy is aimed at providing a detailed picture of Elbettah’s mental state, supporting the defense’s claim of his inability to understand the moral consequences of his actions at the time.
