last link on the left › deadmonton

WARNING

Martin William Kent, 27, was beaten and run over by a car on May 8th, 2007. He died May 22nd as a result of injuries sustained in the incident.

On November 29th, 2007 Edmonton police announced they were investigating Kent's death as a homicide, the 29th of the year.

William Roy King, 20, was charged with manslaughter on September 19th, 2008.

latest update

North Division officers responded to a strip mall parking lot on 144th Avenue and 76th Street at 5:40 a.m. on May 8th, 2007. Reports had come in that several males were involved in an assault.

Just prior to officers arriving some of the males got into a truck and some got into a Honda CRX. The Honda CRX ran over an injured male who was lying on the ground and both vehicles left the scene.

The abandoned CRX was located by police about 20 minutes later near 145th Avenue and 84th Street. Officers were still looking for the truck.

The injured male was taken to hospital where he remained with serious and life threatening injuries.

Police documented evidence in the Londondale strip mall parking lot. Investigators said the incident was drug-related and that the victim and suspects were known to each other.

The strip mall is located in a residential area, near apartment buildings, houses and two elementary schools. A 24-hour convenience store sits on the corner and the lot is normally well lit.

On May 22nd, 2007 the man died.

The medical examiner determined that 27-year-old Martin William Kent succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident. He had been run over with his own car.

Police looked for several suspects in relation to this case.

The images were collected from surveillance footage and were released in the hopes of identifying potential suspects.

Larger versions of some images may be viewed by clicking on the photos.

Police said there could be more suspects involved.

A police spokesman said the incident was not yet assigned to homicide or traffic detectives, but rather was being handled by North Division investigators. The spokesman declined to confirm whether the incident was gang-related.

"Right now we're not classifying the death as a homicide ... but homicide detectives have been notified of the case," said the spokesman, adding the death "could also end up being considered a traffic fatality."

On November 29th, 2007 Edmonton police announced they were now investigating Kent's death as a homicide.

Detectives did not give any reason for the change of status in the case other than to say the upgrade came after “extensive” discussions with Crown prosecutors.

Concerning the five males caught on video surveillance – and once considered to be suspects – a police spokesman said that while investigators have interviewed the men it could not be confirmed if they were still under suspicion.

On September 19th, 2008 a man appearing in court for unrelated matters was arrested in connection with Kent's death.

Police took 20-year-old William Roy King into custody and charged him with manslaughter.

King, described as a member of the White Boy Posse street gang, was known to police and investigators believe he was the driver who ran over Kent.

The man was also arrested for four outstanding warrants. It was not revealed if King was one of the men captured in the surveillance images released earlier.

Police wouldn't comment on whether Kent had any gang ties but did say it was unlikely that he knew his attackers.

William Roy King most recently came to police attention when he was swooped up during Project Goliath, a fifteen-month undercover sting operation that saw 17 members of the White Boy Posse gang charged with drug and weapons offences. Warrants were issued for five other people. White Boy Posse is thought to be affiliated with the Hells Angels.

Project Goliath, headed by the Edmonton Metro Gang Unit, involved 40 police officers and RCMP members from Leduc, Lloydminster, Fort McMurray, Yellowknife and Whitecourt. The arrests took place on March 27th, 2008 in homes in Old Strathcona, Castle Downs and Clareview. The White Boy Posse operated their business out of a location in Beverly.

The timing of the investigation suggested King was under watch by investigators at the time of Kent's murder.

When arrested in March, he faced two counts of trafficking cocaine, and singles charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence to wit cocaine trafficking, possession of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

While the White Boy Posse hasn't been dismantled, it's been handicapped, police said while unveiling the weapons and drugs seized.

Experts likened the White Boy Posse closer to a network than a gang, a gathering of businessmen brought together for a single purpose. As such, its members often provide services such as drug selling and enforcement for more established criminal organisations.

For more about gangs in Edmonton, visit Bad Times Headed for Boomtown, the Last Link's report of a media awareness session presented by Acting Insp. Kevin Galvin, head of the Edmonton Police Service's Co-ordinated Crime Unit, seen above with Chief Mike Boyd.

On August 18th, 2006 22-year-old David Dotto was run over on a southside residential street, the result of a road rage incident. He died six days later.

Police believed Dotto was "purposely struck," according to homicide Det. Bill Clark.

"The driver purposely drove at the victim," Clark said. "It's someone that's killed someone with a weapon. In this case, the weapon was a vehicle."

A 15-year-old male, described by police as a "dial-a-doper," was charged with second-degree murder.

deadmonton 2007 - martin william kent