During a court hearing on Monday, February 26, 2024, a 28-year-old man originally from Morocco admitted to killing Josh Burns, his 19-year-old coworker, attributing his actions to the constant whispers he hears from demons. 

The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the small town of Sundre, Alberta, Canada, occurred on July 4, 2022, at a local McDonald’s where both men were employed. 

The suspect, Solaimane Elbettah, who relocated to Canada in 2018, had a series of fast-food and delivery jobs before settling at the McDonald’s on Main Avenue in Sundre. 

During his testimony, under defense lawyer Pawel Milczarek’s questioning, Elbettah presented a bewildering account of his beliefs in angels, demons, and spirits. He described angels as guardians of humanity and order, whereas demons, he claimed, are sources of discord. According to Elbettah, these demonic entities communicate through whispers—a mode of influence he insists played a pivotal role in the events leading to Josh Burns’ death.

The defense is poised to argue that the suspect should be deemed not criminally responsible (NCR) due to a mental disorder, asserting he lacked the capacity to discern the moral wrongness of his actions at the time of the killing. 

Should the Court of King’s Bench Justice Glen Poelman find the argument credible, Elbettah could be placed in a secure psychiatric facility rather than in prison.

Elbettah’s account of the murder night is disturbing. He claimed to have been incessantly tormented by demonic whispers, which intensified, culminating in the tragic incident. The suspect claims these malevolent forces took advantage of his colleagues, including Burns, to intensify his ordeal. “I’m a threat to them,” he explained, suggesting a sinister influence behind his actions. 

During the late hours of July 3, 2022, extending into the early morning of July 4, he and Burns were the sole employees working the night shift. Shortly before the incident, the two coworkers took a break to smoke outside the establishment. 

Following this, Elbettah deactivated the drive-thru service and exited McDonald’s to go across the street to his motel to fetch a machete. Upon his return, he launched an attack on Burns, inflicting a severe neck wound approximately 11 inches in length, as outlined in the agreed-upon statement of facts. 

Elbettah left the victim lying on the restaurant’s floor. In the hours following, he sent messages to the McDonald’s manager, urging her to contact the police.

His message read, “A murder has occurred at the restaurant; do not enter alone,” and added, “My apologies for everything. He insulted me, believing he was superior because of his race.”

Eventually, Elbettah made a call to 911 from a field nearby. During the 25-minute call, which Judge Pingitore presented in its entirety to the court, he confessed to the 911 operator, “I want to turn myself in. I killed someone.”

The defense plans to bolster its not criminally responsible argument with testimony from three additional witnesses, including Elbettah’s brother, a friend, and a forensic psychiatrist. 

This strategy aims to provide a comprehensive view of Elbettah’s mental state, underpinning the defense’s claim of his inability to comprehend the moral implications of his actions at the time.