Calgary man guilty of manslaughter in killing of Uber driver

A Calgary man on trial for murder was found guilty of manslaughter on Thursday in the robbery of an Uber driver that turned deadly.

Andrew Christal was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kasif Hirani,who was stabbed 39 times on a rural road near Springbank Airport on Dec. 29,2019.

Two others were also charged in the death of the 30-year-old.

Trista Tinkler pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced in January to six years in prison.

Robert Daignault is still awaiting trial.

Defence lawyer Jim Lutz argued this week that Christal, 34, wasn't the one who stabbed Hirani.

However, prosecutor Vince Pingitore said Christal played an "integral and substantial role" in the homicide.

According to testimony, Hirani was driven to the remote location in his own Uber vehicle while Daignault and Tinkler attempted to get his banking passcodes.

Christal testified he did not know there was a plan to stab the victim. And Lutz pointed out Christal did not receive any of the $14,000 stolen from Hirani's accounts after his death.

Christalpreviously told police after his arrest that Daignault stabbed Hirani in a planned robbery that turned violent.

Christal admitted to police that he held the victim, who was struggling to escape, outside the vehicle, as the man was being stabbed.

Sentencing is expected to take place June 3.