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Accused `feared for life' Claims gun pulled during street fight By Jeremy Grimaldi jgrimaldi@yrmg.com The man charged with the attempted murder of Whitchurch-Stouffville hockey player Kyle Sauro after a raucous mansion party in Gormley has taken the stand in his own trial. In his version of events, Tyler Wirag, 21, has told a version with significant variances to that of Sauro's ­ claiming he was engaged in self-defence after two beatings had left him fearing "for his life". Sauro and a number of witnesses -- mostly his friends who attended the party -- said they had gone to the 2013 event and started drinking. After a period of time, Sauro saw his brother Kameron with a huge gash under his eye and heard it was Wirag who was responsible. Sauro said he punched Wirag once and he fell to the ground. Later, after driving to Wirag's Stouffville residence, he says Wirag and his two friends exited the house armed with pellet guns and a baton. Wirag also had two machetes, he told the court. Wirag stabbed him after he ran away and then approached him once again before Sauro's friends hit Wirag with their car, he added. In Wirag's version, he spent a long day at work, deciding to go to the mansion party at the last minute, after witnessing an open Facebook group inviting people to attend. He said he then drove to the party, in a Bethesda Road and Woodbine Avenue estate development, to find his girlfriend, who had told him earlier that she'd be there. Almost immediately after he arrived he says he met his friends, including one man who is black. Wirag said he heard someone yell racial epithets at the black teen, before he turned and saw Sauro not only vocalizing racial slurs but threatening the man's life, all the while with a "scowl" on his face. After saying to the men he didn't want any "problems", one of Sauro's friends cleared a path, he said. Putting his arm around the two men, as a "big brother" figure and "teaching them what's right", they walked away, he added. "They're both young and I just wanted to get them out of danger," Wirag said from the stand. After the two other men walked to another section of the house, Wirag started to head down the home's driveway and saw his girlfriend, before he says he was viciously punched in the back of the head. A group with built bodies then set upon him and he said he thought someone had even bottled him, causing him to fear for his life. Although he fled, he would soon return to the scene to look for his phone and keys, which had been lost during the skirmish, Wirag told the jury. This would result in another beating, he said. Eventually a black pickup truck containing his friends came and picked up a hobbling Wirag who was "seeing stars, had blurred vision and a fogged head" and possibly a broken nose. During the drive home, he said Sauro and his friends chased their vehicle, explaining how at one point he witnessed Sauro run up to the truck while at a stop light, raise his arm with a baton and strike the truck before trying to gain access to the vehicle. The truck then blew through the red light and lost the men, before dropping off two of the passengers and going home. He told the Crown's Paul Attia that he did not call the police during the ride because he had no longer had a phone and didn't ask his friends because he was focused on getting home and away from the men. See ACCUSED, page 20. WhitchurchStouffville's Tyler Wirag (in photograph presented in court) is on trial for attempted murder. WHY PAY MORE? YOU NAME IT ...WE FRAME IT 16686 Yonge St., Newmarket (905) 895-4084 Across from Mandarin Buffet Restaurant 11 | Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, January 21, 2016 ANNUAL 6th Celebrate Celebrate Chinese New Year Year 2016 $ 50,000 January Januar y 29-31, 29 - 31, 2016 2016 $200 ENTR ENTRY Y FEE (C (CAD) AD) $30,000 or a Chrysler Chr ysler 200 2nd Prize $10,000 3rd Prize $5,000 · 4th-9th Prize $1,000 1 ballot for each Plus, Receive tournament entry, for a chance to WIN 1 of 10 FREE ENTRIES into the Carnival Games Tournament March 18-20, 2016. 60 Table Games · 535 Slots We have a winner. Book your seat onlin e@ greatblueheroncasino.com Port Perry, ON · 1-888-294-3766 /gbh_casino /gbhcasino /GreatBlueHeronCasino Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505 Must be 19 years of age or older. Visit the Rapid Rewards Players Club centre for complete rules and details. Valid government issued photo identification is required. Patrons with self-excluded, archived, or trespassed status, as determined by the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino (GBHCC) will not be eligible to participate in this or any GBHCC promotion; and if detected at our gaming property will be removed and trespassed. Prize may not be exactly as shown. Chrysler 200 is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC. License # 16. BAAGWATING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION