The murder trial of Cody Alan Legebokoff, 24, who stands charged in the deaths of four area women will continue Monday.
Court was adjourned Thursday after the B.C. Supreme Court jury heard from three RCMP officers about varying aspects of their investigation including a search of Legebokoff’s apartment and his car. Court was shown two tools, an axe and a pickaroon (log-turning tool,) that have been previously introduced as possible murder weapons.
Corp. John Grierson, a member of the serious crime unit in 2010 and 2011 said he helped with “manual labour” in the search of the accused’s truck between January 13 and 15 of 2011. Grierson said he noted what appeared to be blood on the back side passenger seat and samples were seized. Also a bank book was found in the vehicle’s glove box.
The second witness Thursday, Const. Dennis Engel, testified that said he went to Legebokoff’s apartment on Dec. 1, 2010 and during a search, found a pickaroon leaning against the wall, right side of the bed, behind a bedside table. The officer said he also found a small axe in a boot closet.
On cross-examination by defence counsel James Heller, the officer was asked if the pickaroon was “easy to see?”
“You could see the handle,” Engel said.
Engel also described later taking the pickaroon with him to Erie, Pennyslvania where it was to examined by forensic anthropologist Stephen Symes, a specialist in tool markings on bone. Symes previously testified that he could not eliminate the pickaroon as the weapon used in at least one of the attacks.
Asked by Heller if it was “tough” going through security, Engel explained that Air Canada was aware of the trip and its purpose, so clearance documentation was in order and he was able to have it with him “the whole time,” during the flight.
Engel also told the court about his role in a Dec. 3 and 4, 2010 search of the area where the body of Loren Leslie, 15, was found. He said he saw “lots of blood” in fresh snow that he estimated was six to eight centimetres deep. On re-examination by the Crown, the witness said the blood he saw in areas was not on the surface but being “kicked up” by search and rescue people.
Corp. Dino Raja testified about his part in the 2011 searches connected with the case against Legebokoff including a grid search.
The trial which began June 2 is expected to last several weeks and continues before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Glen Parrett. Witnesses in the case so far have included family members of the victims, several medical experts and several RCMP officers involved in the case.