The trial for a man accused of murdering a Kelowna teenager finally got underway on Wednesday.
Jennifer Cusworth, 19, was murdered 18 years ago following a house party; her body was found in a ditch.
The accused is Neil George Snelson, 45, a Kelowna father of four.
After making its opening remarks to the six man and six woman jury, the Crown wasted no time calling its first witness, RCMP Corporal Bill Parmar.
Parmar was one of five officers who, in 2008, 15 years after the murder, began reviewing the Cusworth file.
The officer told the court that the year-long review resulted in a list of dozens of men as potential suspects.
He explained police decided to focus on the local suspects first.
Snelson was at the house party on Richter Street back in October 1993, where Cusworth has last seen alive.
Parmar testified that in the spring of 2009, Snelson was one of two Kelowna men police were interested in obtaining a DNA sample from to see if there was a match to the DNA from the semen that was found on Cusworth’s body.
They followed Snelson for two weeks straight trying to obtain some DNA.
On one occasion, they even followed him to the food court of Orchard Park Mall in hopes of retrieving his garbage from a fast food meal and lifting the DNA from it.
However, their efforts were unsuccessful and eventually police decided to go to the Snelson home to talk with him.
Parmar recalled the conversation at the trial, saying Snelson seemed annoyed at the officers’ presence.
“I was wondering when you would show up. I’ve seen you following me for two/three weeks. Why am I under surveillance?” Snelson said to the officers.
Police explained they were revisiting the Cusworth murder and asked Snelson if he knew Cusworth.
Snelson replied no.
Police asked whether Snelson saw her at the party.
Snelson again replied no.
Police then asked him whether there was any reason his DNA would be found at the crime scene.
Snelson lowered his head and answered no.
He was asked again whether there was any reason his DNA would be found at the crime scene and Parmar says Snelson then teared up and gave the same replied, “No, no, I don’t think so.”
Snelson was eventually ordered to provide a blood sample, which revealed the DNA was a match.
Witness Erick Mikkelson says Snelson had been brought to the party by a mutual friend but says he never saw Snelson with Cusworth during the course of the party.
Snelson’s wife Brandi and several other family members were at the trial.
The accused frequently turned around to smile at them.
Cusworth’s parents sat in the front row across from the Snelson family.
Jennifer’s mother Jean cried and wiped away tears during the testimony.
The trial has been scheduled for four weeks.
The Crown is expected to call another 35 witnesses.
Comments