Andrew Christal has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Kasif Hirani, who was stabbed 39 times on a rural road near Springbank Airport on December 29, 2019. Two others were charged with the death of the 30-year-old. Trista Tinkler pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced in January to six years in prison. Robert Daignault is still awaiting trial. Defense attorney Jim Lutz argued this week that Christal, 34, was not the one who stabbed Hirani. However, prosecutor Vince Pingitore said Christal played an “integral and essential role” in the murder. According to testimony, Hirani was driven to the remote location in his own Uber vehicle, while Daignault and Tinkler tried to get his bank codes. Christal testified that he was unaware that there was a plan to stab the victim. And Lutz pointed out that Christal did not receive any of the $ 14,000 stolen from Hirani’s accounts after his death. Christal had previously told police after his arrest that Daignault stabbed Hirani in a planned robbery that turned violent. Christal admitted to police that he kept the victim, who was trying to escape, out of the vehicle as the man was stabbed. The sentence is expected to be issued on June 3.
