Two of the four men arrested in Tyler Johnson’s murder had ‘strong friendship,’ jury hears

Two of the four people charged in the fatal shooting of Tyler Johnson had a strong friendship" and often hung out together, a Hamilton jury heard Friday.

The third day in the murder trial of Chad Davidson included testimony from a young woman who lived with the accused when he allegedly shot and killed Johnson outside the Tim Hortons at King and Caroline streets on Nov. 30, 2013.

Davidson is accused of first-degree murder in the death of the McMaster University engineering student. He has pleaded not guilty.

Oceonna Sharp was 16 years old when a falling out with her family saw her move into Davidson and then-girlfriend Ashley Dore's house on the Mountain.

While initially closer friends with Dore, the young woman grew to refer to the couple as her parents."

Sharp testified they let her sleep on their living room couch, fed her, bought her a cellphone and drove her to school in a black Jeep Liberty, one of two cars that would later become suspect vehicles in the shooting. They also frequently entrusted her to babysit Dore's younger daughter, she testified, including on the night Davidson allegedly shot Johnson.

The jury heard that in the minutes before Dore and Davidson left home for the Tim Hortons parking lot around 2 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2013 - about an hour prior to the shooting - Sharp heard Davidson answer a call on his cell.

All I heard him saw was, I'm on the way,'" Sharp, now 24, testified, adding she was half asleep" and didn't ask the couple where they were going.

Crown attorney Cheryl Gzik said in her opening address that Davidson met with two people in the parking lot: brothers Joshua and Brandon Barreira.

Like Davidson, Hamilton police arrested both in late 2013 related to Johnson's slaying.

But the legal fate of the men won't be known to the 14-member jury.

Justice Gerald Taylor told jurors Thursday the outcome of the brothers' cases won't be raised at trial so as to not influence their decision on whether to convict Davidson, who is being tried alone.

Sharp testified she knew the elder Barreira, Joshua, because he had visited Davidson and Dore's home before.

He'd come to the house a few times (and) I met his girlfriend once," she said of Joshua. He and Chad had a strong friendship."

The trial resumes Monday.

Sebastian Bron is a reporter at The Spectator. sbron@thespec.com