SASKATOON – A verdict is expected Dec. 17 in the Douglas Hales murder trial. Hales is accused of first-degree murder and offering an indignity to a body after university student Daleen Bosses, 25, went missing in May, 2004.
Her burned remains were found in a wood area north of Saskatoon on Aug. 7, 2008 after Hales led undercover police officers there during a Mr. Big Sting operation. Hales was charged three days later.
Here’s a look at the timeline of events in the case.
Timeline of tragedy
May 18, 2004: Daleen Bosse is last seen at a nightclub in downtown Saskatoon in the early morning hours
May 2008: “Mr. Big” sting operation gets underway with Douglas Hales as the target of undercover officers
Aug. 7, 2008: Douglas Hales has meeting with “Mr. Big” at Radisson Hotel, leads undercover officers to the remains of Daleen Bosse
Aug. 10, 2008: Douglas Hales arrested at the Home Depot in the 700-block of Circle Drive East and is charged with her murder
Aug. 11, 2008 – May 5, 2014: Trial delayed several times due to legal representation issues after Hales dismisses a string of lawyers.
May 5, 2014: Trial gets underway; Douglas Hales pleads not guilty to first-degree murder and offering an indignity to human remains. The first person to take the stand is a former doorman at Jax Nite Club, the last place Bosse was seen alive.
May 6, 2014: Jeremiah Bosse, Daleen Bosse’s husband, testifies seeing his wife for the last time and that when she didn’t come home or check in “I was kinda scared for her.”
May 7, 2014: Testimony from the undercover RCMP sergeant who devised the “Mr. Big” sting operation
May 9, 2014: The arresting officers take the stand.
May 12, 2014: Undercover RCMP officer who had direct contact with Hales throughout the operation takes the stand. An audio recording of Hales taking officers to Bosse’s remains is played in court.
May 17, 2014: A twist in the case as the interrogation video is played; Hales tells police that he and Bosse partied that night and he accidentally killed her with alcohol.
May 26, 2014: The trial enters its fourth week; the defence calls its first witness, a toxicologist by the name of Wayne Jeffery.
May 27, 2014: The defence attempts to call a second witness but the judge rules against the psychologist testifying.
May 28, 2014: The defence and the Crown argue whether Hales’ confession to police should be admitted as evidence and if Hales statements were voluntary. The defence says it will need at least three days before it rests its case “because of the nature of the evidence we’re calling.”
May 29, 2014: Judge Allbright rules that the in-custody statements Hales made to police were voluntary and the interview is considered evidence.
June 23, 2014: Trial resumes after nearly three weeks; Douglas Hales takes the stand in his first-degree murder trial.
June 24-25, 2014: Cross-examination of Douglas Hales.
June 26, 2014: Closing arguments are made; verdict to be handed down Aug. 29, 2014.
July 31, 2014: The Supreme Court of Canada rules that “Mr. Big” stings can continue to be used by police but under tighter controls.
Aug. 1, 2014: Bob Hrycan, defence lawyer for Douglas Hales, calls the ruling “an earthquake” and says it changes everything.
Aug. 11, 2014: Judge in the first-degree murder trial pushes back verdict date until arguments are made on the implications of the SCOC ruling.
Aug. 29, 2014: Counsel is given more time to prepare arguments; defence calls on the judge to declare a mistrial.
Sept. 22, 2014: After hearing arguments, the judge rules against a mistrial; defence calls on the judge to reopen the case so he can call more witnesses to the stand expected to be psychiatric in nature.
Oct. 22, 2014: Arguments made by the defence to reopen the case.
Oct. 30, 2014: Judge rejects the motion to reopen case.
Nov. 14, 2014: Crown makes final arguments in the case, the defence rests; verdict in the trial set for Dec. 17, 2014.
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