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Crown suggests Joshua Frank had financial motive for killing Alberta family

A photo of the Red Deer courthouse taken on Nov. 25, 2017. Morris Gamblin/ Global News

One of two men charged with shooting three people, then burning their house down, continues to maintain he had nothing to do with it.

Joshua Frank and Jason Klaus are charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Klaus’ parents and sister in a home near Castor, Alta., on Dec. 8, 2013.

Crown prosecutor Dallas Sopko reminded Frank on Monday that he told undercover police in July 2014 that he did kill the three and gave details.

Frank testified he only told the officers, who were posing as crime bosses, because he was trying to be a “tough guy” for 42-year-old Klaus.

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READ MORE: Joshua Frank cross-examined at triple-murder trial in Red Deer

Watch below: On Nov. 25, 2017, Julia Wong filed this report as the co-accused in an Alberta triple-murder trial continued to point fingers at one another.

Click to play video: 'Joshua Frank cross-examined at Alberta triple-murder trial'
Joshua Frank cross-examined at Alberta triple-murder trial

He said the night of the murders he was sitting in a vehicle when he saw Klaus raise his arm, a muzzle flashed and then a gunshot; Klaus then walked towards his parents’ house with a jerry can.

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Sopko suggested Frank, who is 32, carried out the murders for cash because he was broke and addicted to drugs, but Frank again said he didn’t kill them.

When asked why he didn’t get away from Klaus, even though he had the opportunity, he said it was because he was afraid.

“I wasn’t thinking close to rationally,” Frank said.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

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