The trial of an elderly man accused of killing his wife hit a snag Thursday, after a piece of explosive evidence was entered in court the day before – technical problems delayed further court proceedings.
On Wednesday, the taped police interview of then 78-year-old Noel Lavery was shown to the court.
In the tape, Lavery admitted to killing his 50-year-old wife Sherry – only hours after she was smothered in the bed of their Millwoods home in 2006.
Lavery appeared calm and composed on the tape, eventually he's heard saying:
"I murdered my wife…What's done is done."
He also told the police detective interviewing him, now retired Detective Greg Martin, his reasons for ending her life – he said he loved her, but he couldn't deal with her chronic alcoholism any longer.
"I'm 78-years-old and I do not want to spend the last few years that I may have…wiping her bottom."
The videotaped interview came out in court the day after the crown entered the 911 call from the night Sherry Lavery died.
In the recording, Noel Lavery told the operator what had happened.
"I smothered my wife," Noel Lavery was recorded saying to the operator in September of 2006. "I put a pillow over her face, and I held it there until she stopped."
Throughout the 911 call and the police interview, Lavery's tone was described as even and matter-of-fact, so much so that the interviewing officer Martin agreed with the defence that the interview was the most unusual and unique of his homicide career.
So unique that Lavery even thanked Martin at the end of their conversation.
Noel Lavery has been charged with second degree murder.
The trial continued Friday, with defence lawyers opening their case.
The defence is expected to call a psychiatrist to testify on Monday.
With files from David Ewasuk
