Trial begins for Alberta youth charged with shooting German tourist

CALGARY – There was conflicting testimony in court Monday about whether a youth charged in the shooting of a German tourist on an Alberta highway may have acted on his own or was ordered to fire the gun.

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The youth from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation was 16 when he was charged last August after the 60-year-old tourist was shot in the left side of the head by someone in a passing car west of Calgary.

The teen, who cannot be named, is on trial for aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent to injure but a count of attempted murder was withdrawn.

A female witness in the suspect vehicle says the accused did shoot the man while passing the S-U-V, but only after being ordered to do so by the driver.

But the driver says he had no idea it was going to happen and heard a loud bang from the seat behind him.

The victim in the shooting had eight bullet fragments removed from his brain and is now paralyzed on his right side.

WATCH: Minister speaks out on German tourist shooting

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