The seven-man, seven-woman jury hearing Christopher Garnier’s murder trial has started watching a videotaped statement the accused gave to police shortly after his arrest.
Garnier, 30, is accused of killing Catherine Campbell at an apartment on McCully Street in Halifax before using a green bin to dispose of her body under the Macdonald Bridge in the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 2015.
Garnier has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and improperly interfering with a dead body.
READ: New exhibits in Christopher Garnier murder trial released by court
Christopher Garnier interrogation video 9.5 hours long
On Monday, the court started to watch a videotaped interrogation between Cpl. Joseph (Jody) Allison and Garnier following his arrest.
In the video, Allison told Garnier he was “a good guy” and that he didn’t think Garnier planned to kill Campbell but that things got out of control. Within a few minutes of the interview starting, Garnier could be seen sobbing on the video.
Allison told Garnier that Campbell was reported missing after she failed to show up to work as a police officer in Truro, N.S. He also laid out the evidence that police had in the case so far, including video taken from a surveillance system showing a man walking barefoot from a McCully Street apartment, pulling a green bin.
READ: Garnier Trial: Jury shown pictures of body discovered under Macdonald Bridge
WATCH: Witnesses saw man rolling green bin allegedly used to dispose of Catherine Campbell’s body
“There’s no doubt in my mind you’re responsible for her death. No doubt whatsoever,” Allison told Garnier during the interrogation.
Allison asked Garnier if he had sex with Campbell on the night she died. Garnier replied he didn’t remember.
Allison also showed Garnier several pictures of Campbell, including some post-modem, telling Garnier to “look at her eyes” and to tell him what happened.
“Chris, you’ve got to help me paint the picture that you’re not a monster, bud,” Allison can be heard telling Garnier in the video.
The interrogation video between Allison and Garnier is roughly 9.5 hours long.
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The jury only had an opportunity to view a few hours of the statement on Monday. It’s expected the video will continue Tuesday.
READ: Christopher Garnier’s defence lawyer floats idea of erotic asphyxiation in Catherine Campbell death
Police officer says clothing, passport and gas found in vehicle Garnier was driving
Before the statement was played for the jury, the court heard testimony from Sgt. Andre Habib, a forensic identification officer with the Halifax Regional Police.
Habib testified the vehicle that Garnier was driving on the day he was arrested contained a tarp, rope, blanket and a five-litre gas can that was half full.
Habib also said a backpack containing sandals, a long-sleeve hoodie, three T-shirts, pants, sandals, six pairs of underwear and toiletries was also found inside the Ford Edge.
Habib said they also found a passport with the name Christopher Garnier, a deck of cards and two boxes of Cipralex, a medication used for depression. Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Joel Pink, Habib said the Cipralex was prescribed to Vincent Garnier, the father of Christopher Garnier.
Habib also told the court that a blue T-shirt and a set of Mazda keys were found inside a bag in a garbage bin across the street from the McCully Street apartment where it’s alleged Campbell was murdered.
WATCH: Surveillance video from inside the Halifax Alehouse on the night the Crown alleges off-duty Truro police officer Catherine Campbell was killed
READ MORE: Garnier trial: Tarp, work gloves and rope found in vehicle of accused killer
Trial scheduled to last 5 weeks
Garnier’s trial is scheduled to last 23 court days over a five week period. Monday marked the start of the third week in the case.
The Crown has previously said they plan to call about 40 witnesses. So far, 34 people have taken the stand to testify in the case.
The trial will resume Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax.
READ: New exhibits in Christopher Garnier murder trial released by court
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