The final few hours of a 9.5-hour interrogation video was shown to the seven-man, seven-woman jury hearing Christopher Garnier’s murder trial on Thursday.
Garnier, 30, is facing charges of second-degree murder and improperly interfering with a dead body. He pleaded not guilty to both charges against him on the opening day of his trial.
WATCH: Christopher Garnier describes having his hands around Catherine Campbell’s neck during a police interrogation in September 2015.
Garnier is accused of killing off-duty Truro police officer Catherine Campbell, 36, at an apartment on McCully Street in September 2015.
This week, the jury has been watching Garnier’s interrogation video, which was taken shortly after his arrest on Sept. 16, 2015.
READ: Garnier trial: Tarp, work gloves and rope found in vehicle of accused killer
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During the video, Garnier can be seen sobbing and repeatedly saying he can’t talk. At one point, Cpl. Jody Allison asks Garnier if Campbell was alive when she was put in the green bin. Garnier replies “no” and that “she wasn’t moving. She wasn’t breathing.”
“I don’t remember what happened,” Garnier said sobbing.
“Where was she bleeding from?” Allison asked him on the video. Garnier replied “I think her nose.”
When Allison pressed him about what he meant by she was bleeding, Garnier said “Like she was bleeding from her nose I think, it was all over her face. That’s how I know she wasn’t alive when she went in the bin because I could hear her take her last breaths.”
WATCH: Christopher Garnier describes Catherine Campbell’s last breath during a police interrogation in September 2015
Near the end of the interrogation, Garnier told officers that he punched Campbell, possibly three times.
Allison could be heard asking Garnier: “The reason that you can hear her last gasps, her last breaths Chris, why is that?”
Garnier replied: “My hands were on her neck.”
READ MORE: Jury shown pictures of body discovered under Macdonald Bridge
A letter that Garnier wrote to the family of Catherine Campbell was presented as evidence on Thursday. The crown alleges that Garnier wrote the note during his interrogation.
“I never wanted this to happen. I’ve always been a caring person, but this is my darkest moment,” Garnier wrote. “I don’t expect you to forgive me for what happened, so I won’t ask for your forgiveness.”
“If I could give my own life to get hers back I would. I will carry this with me for the rest of my life.”
Garnier’s trial is scheduled to last 23 court days over a five-week period at Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax, with a verdict expected just before Christmas.
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