Terry Auld’s girlfriend testifies about hammer attack

The mother of a Hamilton man who was beaten to death with a hammer, wants the public to know that her son was a good man who simply made bad choices.

Terry Auld's murder trial continued in Hamilton Tuesday and Natalie Marconi was in the courtroom when Auld's girlfriend took the stand.

Terry Auld was a father, a music lover, and enjoyed making people laugh. At least, that's how his mother hopes he will be remembered:

"Went out west together and did a lot of travelling together when he was younger. But he chose the wrong path in life and that's what got my son killed.

"I tried as a mother to get him counselling and drug rehab. he was supposed to go to the (clinic) in Guelph and he didn't."

Mary Auld, Terry's mother

Inside the courthouse Auld's girlfriend, Andrea Beninger, testified that he had been doing crack the night before he was killed.

She believes the men who attacked her and her boyfriend in this alley, were the same people Terry Auld allegedly stole jewelry from.

Beninger says, they were on their way to sell the jewelry when Auld was stopped by two men.

"I saw people asking Terry what he had in the bag. It was the people he stole from and there was a lot of expensive jewelry."

Later in the altercation:

"I got struck in the face with the hammer. I stopped three swings and the fourth swing got me right in the face."

Beninger testified, "Terry asked why they had hit me and I didn't see or hear anything after that."

Ian Harrington, 27, and Mirko Bucik, 23, have both pleaded not guilty to second degree murder charges.

Mary Auld: "I lost my only son. That was my only child. It's very difficult for me and I hope that there will be justice."