A woman who was shot in the heart, confronted the alleged gunman and took to the witness stand at a major murder trial in Hamilton on Thursday.
The second day in the case against a young Toronto couple who allegedly murdered a Stoney Creek man in February 2021 took place on Thursday. The young couple is accused of shooting Jordyn Romano in the heart, and killing her partner 39-year-old Tyler Pratt in a Stoney Creek parking lot.
Romano says this is the first time she’s come face to face with Yun (Lucy) Lu Li and Oliver Karafa since that February 2021 night when she and her boyfriend were shot.
READ MORE: Crown begins its case in Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li murder trial
Romano told the crown she felt “uneasy” being in the room, especially since the last time she saw Karafa and Li was Feb. 28, 2021.
That’s when the crown argues Li and Karafa lured Pratt and Romano to a property for sale on Arvin Avenue in Stoney Creek under false pretenses. Pratt and Romano expected the visit to be about a new marijuana business venture, but that’s where the crown alleges Karafa shot Pratt six times.
Romano was also shot, and the court heard on Wednesday how she survived after crawling to the side of the road, yelling for help. She lost her pregnancy that day.
Romano says she and Pratt were so close, they were “like one person.”
Romano testified that Pratt and Karafa were introduced by a mutual friend, and went into business together, selling personal protective equipment to hospitals in Europe.
The couple invested $470,000 into Karafa’s PPE business.
READ MORE: Pair wanted for murder of Tyler Pratt have fled to Europe: Hamilton police
“We thought there was a lot of money in Europe,” she told the court, “we were expecting millions of dollars.”
Romano said it wasn’t a secret Pratt made money by selling cocaine.
While they started as business partners, Romano told the court, “we considered them really good friends. We just had a good relationship. I don’t know what more else to say because it’s embarrassing that it was fake.”
Romano said the problem arose when they started asking for their investment back and for the profits to be paid.
The court heard how Karafa was having trouble getting the money to Canada and so Romano said she signed a fraudulent insurance policy for $1.5 million to help transfer the funds, she alleges Li created the policy through her mother’s company.
Romano said Li planned to take $1 million from her mom’s account to help pay, and Karafa would supply the remaining $500,000. Romano expected to receive the money and finalize the policy on March 1, the day after the pair were shot.
Romano’s testimony is expected to continue on Friday when she will also be questioned by the defence.
