Yukon accused says stranger did robbery, shot at cop

The accused in an attempted murder case in Yukon says police got the wrong man.

Chris Cornell testifiedin his own defence in front of a Yukon Supreme Court jury Thursday.He says it was someone else who robbed the Haines Junction grocery store and shot at police in a high speed chase.

Cornell sayshe and his girlfriend, Jessica Johnson, were doing drugs and looking for more on the night in question. They were with a friend, Harold John, who introduced them to a drug dealer, a stranger they knew only as "Rider."

Cornell says when they ran out of drugs, Rider offered to get some more, but wanted company for the ride. Cornell says his girlfriend volunteered to go along, with plans to meet up later at Kluane Lake.

Cornell says he and John were broken down on the side of the road when he saw police speed by in pursuit of an SUV.
He says from the bush he heard a loud bang, and saw police turn around and pick up his intoxicated driver Harold John.

Cornell says he then jogged 12 kilometres up the highway where he found hisgirlfriend, alone and "out of it" in the passenger seat of the SUV.

The driver, the man named Rider, had apparently gone to find a ride and was never seen again.

Prosecutors are now questioning Cornell about his story.