LONDON, Ont. – A trial has begun for a man charged with murder in the grisly death of another man whose dismembered body was found stuffed into hockey bags in a London, Ont., hotel room.
James McCullough, 22, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and committing an indignity to a human body in connection with the death of 20-year-old Alex Fraser.
On the first day of McCullough’s trial, which began Tuesday in London, the Crown said autopsy results showed Fraser had been stabbed 20 times.
The trial also heard from a cab driver who testified McCullough paid her $320 in cash for him and Fraser to travel from Orangeville, Ont. – where both men were from – to a Travelodge in London on the night of Sept. 7, 2013.
She said Fraser appeared intoxicated and confused as to why they were making the trip. The Crown said a forensic toxicologist will confirm his blood had a “very high alcohol content.”
The trial heard police were called to the Travelodge nearly 24 hours after the men checked into a room and found Fraser’s dismembered body in two hockey bags.
McCullough was arrested at the scene and originally faced a count of second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a human body, but the murder charge was later upgraded to first-degree.
Police said Fraser and McCullough were known to each other, but the exact nature of their relationship has not been disclosed.
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