It was a murder that had local residents locking their doors, both in the village of Herschel, Sask., with a population of approximately 30 people and those living at nearby farmyards.
More than seven years later, after Carol King‘s remains were found in a wooded area, the accused has gone before a judge as part of a voir dire.
A judge will determine if the voir dire testimony and evidence will be admissible in Joseph “David” Caissie’s first-degree murder trial.
In 2016, the accused was arrested and charged with the 40-year-old’s murder and offering an indignity to human remains after a five-year investigation into King’s death and a “Mr. Big Sting.”
On Monday, Brenda King appeared via video from the east coast and was questioned by both the Crown and defence about the events leading up to her sister’s death.
In July 2011, Brenda visited Carol at her home outside of Herschel. During this stay, Brenda told court that her sister received a letter at the local post office from the accused saying he intended to place a lien against the property where she was living.
Brenda told the Saskatoon courtroom she witnessed the two argue over-the-phone then in person over the documentation. She told the Crown she had reviewed the contents of the letter sent to her sister and that things escalated from there.
Caissie would drive by Carol’s place slowly, which was only two kilometers from his own home that he shared with his wife and children.
Court heard that on one occasion, the accused drove by the property at least five times within an hour.
Brenda testified to an incident around July 19, 2011, when the accused parked his truck in some bushes around midnight then proceeded to search the property for two hours with a flashlight as the women hid the entire time.
Court heard that it was then that Carol went to the Rosetown RCMP to file a report against Caissie, saying she feared for her life.
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Court heard that Brenda knew the exact time of events because they had begun to take notes of incidents at the advice of authorities.
Carol also began to lock up different buildings on the property and covered windows on an overhead door to a quonset. According to Brenda, this was so that her sister could park her vehicle inside and nobody would know when she was coming or going.
The accused and victim were in business together and having an extramarital affair. Carol had told Brenda that she would return to Nova Scotia in November when her unemployment ran out but that day never came.
The trip in July, was the last time Brenda would see Carol alive.
On Aug. 6, 2011, King was reported missing by her sister after several unsuccessful attempts to get a hold of her, which was highly unusual since Carol always carried her cell phone.
The search for Carol King
On Aug. 6, RCMP attended Carol’s home and were unable to find any signs of the 40-year-old or her vehicle.
Days later on Aug. 10, RCMP Air Services conducted an aerial search and Carol’s PT Cruiser was located approximately 2.5 kilometres east of her home in an abandoned yard site, submerged in a body of water.
Extensive searches were conducted and three weeks later on Aug. 27, local residents found King’s remains in a wooded area near the abandoned yard site approximately six kilometres from where the PT Cruiser was found.
The manpower dedicated to the case between 2011-16 included: Rosetown and Saskatoon RCMP, the underwater recovery team, police dogs, Forensics Identification Section, Search and Rescue, Air Services, Major Crime and the Historical Case Unit.
On July 19, 2016, following an undercover police operation, Caissie was arrested without incident near Saskatoon.
The voir dire
This case is being tried by judge alone and there is no publication ban in place other than on the identification of the undercover officers therefore the proceedings can be reported on.
At some point, the judge will rule on what parts of the voir dire will be admissible if not all of what he’s heard.
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