Today’s witnesses in Marissa Shephard’s first degree murder and arson trial described the events on the day of her arrest in March, 2016.
Defence lawyer Gilles Lemieux began with the cross examination of Constable Joel Arsenault, who was the first officer to respond to a sighting of Shephard in the Lewisville Road area on March 1st.
On a digital map of the area, Arsenault illustrated where he first saw them, and where he parked to approach them.
He reported three people, later determined to be Shephard, Stephen Nagle and Krystal Toole, seemed startled to see him, and fled towards Shediac Road.
Arsenault followed them, and after yelling “Police! Stop!” both Toole and Shephard stopped, and approached him.
Lemieux: what happens next? Arsenault: at that point, I’m still by myself, as I’m dealing with Toole, I’m yelling at the other female across on Shediac Road “Police, Stop!” The person stops, I tell her to come towards me, as she’s coming towards me Cst Presseau arrives
— Dave Heintzman (@daveheintzman) March 21, 2018
When Constable Philippe Presseau arrived at the scene, they confirmed Shephard’s identity, and arrested her as well as the other two.
Presseau: Arsenault asked the female in the blue jacket what her name was? She said ‘something Morse’, and her face was covered. She seemed nervous, they made positive contact she was Shephard, Arsenault then arrested her while Presseau arrested Toole.
— Dave Heintzman (@daveheintzman) March 21, 2018
Arsenault: my adrenaline is pumping, I was tightly focused, but not stressed. My first first degree murder arrest. Lemieux: So you heard two names, can’t remember the second one? Arsenault: I think I heard Natalie.
— Dave Heintzman (@daveheintzman) March 21, 2018
Both Constables Presseau and Arsenault said Shephard did not give her real name at first, and was wearing aviators, and a toque which obscured her identity.
The trial resumes at 1:30 this afternoon.
