Calgary man accused in beating, drugging death found not guilty of manslaughter

A Calgary man accused of participating in the beating, drugging and dismemberment death of a victim whose remains were later found on First Nations land west of the city has been found not guilty of manslaughter, but guilty of accessory after the fact to murder.

Jason Tait was on trial over the last three weeks, accused of participating in or encouraging the attack on Keanan Crane, 22, in April 2022.

After closing arguments on Monday, jurors received final instructions on how to apply the law to their deliberations and were sequestered starting Tuesday evening.

• Victim beaten, drugged, dismembered, jurors hear on Day 1 of Calgary manslaughter trial

The verdict comes after jurors heard three weeks of evidence in the case. 

Crane was beaten, drugged with fentanyl and dismembered on April 7, 2022. 

Prosecutors told jurors that Crane, a low-level drug dealer, owed money to his boss after his drugs were seized during a traffic stop. 

That boss was Tait's roommate.

• 'Things escalated': Man on trial for manslaughter testifies he was only a witness to fatal beating, drugging

On the night he was killed, several people were at Tait's northeast home drinking and doing drugs.

When Crane showed up with two friends, he got into an argument with Tait's roommate.

The Crown's theory of the case was that Tait and his roommate encouraged the house guests to attack Crane.

Tait testified he witnessed the attack but did not participate.

Victim bound, drugged

The victim was kicked, punched and taped up before a "shot" of fentanyl was administered. 

The medical examiner could not determine a cause of death. After the beating and drugging, Crane's body was dragged into Tait's bathroom and dismembered. 

His remains were driven to an area west of the city. Body parts were later found on the Mînî Thnî First Nation, formerly known as Morley.

Days after the killing, Tait told jurors he cleaned blood up from his bathroom. 

'Teach him a lesson'

Calgary police targeted Tait in an undercover operation as part of their homicide investigation.

Of the killing, Tait told one UCO "we let the young guys do it" because "we had to teach him a lesson."

He testified he exaggerated his role because he was "trying to be tough" and wanted to work for the men who'd offered to pay him for small, easy tasks. 

Court of King's Bench Justice Janice Ashcroft will hear sentencing submissions from defence lawyer Adam Klassen and prosecutors Stephanie Morton and Aleksandra Simić at a later date.