Canada - Erin Howlett, 28, murdered, Elmira, Ont, 27 June 2013 *Arrest*

[cansleuther]

In case anyone is interested, Ball's IG account can be found here: https://instagram.com/buckball/

There are a lot of hunting, gun, and knife photos, as well as a post from July 2013 that's captioned "beers on the porch in memory of you rip sweet angel".

 

[redheart]

Ugh, I'd looked quickly at the idiocy on his IG before but hadn't got to that little gem.

 

[redheart]

Erin Howlett's murder trial, November 23, 2015: http://www.therecord.com/news-story...t-tested-for-drug-use-ball-murder-trial-told/

Police considered the possibility Erin Howlett overdosed but did not proceed with a test that could have revealed drug use, Michael Ball's murder trial heard on Monday.

On Monday, defence lawyer Brennan Smart asked Sgt. David Moser, who works in the Waterloo Regional Police forensic identification branch, whether police considered the possibility she overdosed.

"That is always a possibility, yes," Moser replied.

He testified police seized Howlett's stomach contents and liver to check for drug use and said he was asked by homicide detectives to get Howlett's hair tested for the same purpose.

The lead police investigator made the decision not to test it, Moser said.

Howlett's body was found inside a duffel bag on July 5, 2013, in the Grand River near the Walter Bean Grand River Trail in Kitchener.

Earlier on Monday, Moser testified fibres taken from Ball's apartment and a car did not match fibres taken from Howlett's body or the duffel bag she was found in.

 

[redheart]

November 24, 2015:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6133767-k-w-surplus-playing-big-role-in-ball-murder-trial/

K-W Surplus is playing a prominent role in the Michael Ball murder trial.

The retail outlet at 666 Victoria St. N. in Kitchener has a Russian tank and a full-scale replica of a British warplane outside, but the trial is focused on what's inside the store.

Prosecution witnesses Ryan Jacobs and Chase Renaud last week testified Ball told them in mid-June of 2013 he had bought a duffel bag at K-W Surplus. Erin Howlett's body was found in the Grand River on July 5, 2013, inside a duffel bag. Ball and Howlett had dated.

On Tuesday, Det. Brendan Westmorland of Waterloo Regional Police testified he was informed a text message from Ball's phone referred to a duffel bag and duct tape being purchased in early June 2013.

Westmorland said he went through K-W Surplus cash register receipts, looking for one with both a $32.99 purchase and a $7.99 purchase.

The trial has been told a bag similar to the one that contained Howlett's body cost $32.99 at K-W Surplus. One of the prices for duct tape at the store was $7.99.

Westmorland testified he found both dollar amounts on a receipt that he said is dated June 1, 2013. The receipt does not specify what was bought. The purchases are listed as "other." The store also had in its inventory items not connected to the investigation for $32.99 and $7.99.

 

[redheart]

Erin Howlett's murder trial, November 25, 2015:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...el-bag-defence-suggests-at-ball-murder-trial/

The defence in the Michael Ball murder trial spent Wednesday trying to minimize the importance of a K-W Surplus sales document showing a customer buying a $32.99 item and a $7.99 item on June 1, 2013.

The prosecution had earlier suggested the document could represent the sale of a World Famous duffel bag — similar to the bag that contained Erin Howlett's body — and duct tape.

Previous witnesses have testified Ball said in mid-June 2013 that he had bought a duffel bag at K-W Surplus. The trial has been told the store had in its inventory a bag similar to the one used in the crime. It was priced at $32.99.

On Wednesday, defence lawyer Brennan Smart elicited testimony from Scott Knechtel, who worked at K-W Surplus in 2013, that the $32.99 purchase could have been for any one of four products with that price. Two of the items the store sold at that price were not duffel bags.

K-W Surplus does not scan bar codes. Rather, it uses old-fashioned price stickers and an analog cash register system.

Knechtel agreed that if a World Famous duffel bag had been purchased, the cashier should have entered the sale under the "World Famous" category. Instead, the item is recorded as "other."

However, questioned by Crown prosecutor Melissa Ernewein, Knechtel agreed about half of the cashiers in 2013 "took the lazy route" and recorded all sales as "other."

 

[redheart]

No court Thursday November 26:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...to-visit-site-where-howlett-s-body-was-found/

The jury in the Michael Ball first-degree murder trial will get a close-up look at the area in the Grand River where Erin Howlett's body was found.

Taylor said jurors, escorted by court services officers, will view five specific areas. The jury, made up of eight men and six women, will be joined by the judge, Ball, his defence lawyers and the prosecutors.

 

[redheart]

Monday, November 30:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...all-murder-trial-hears-no-evidence-on-monday/

Jurors in the Michael Ball murder trial were in the courtroom for just two minutes on Monday.

The trial had been set to start at 10 a.m. but jurors were not summoned until 11:30 a.m. When they sat down, Justice Gerry Taylor told them a "significant legal point" needed to be resolved before the trial can continue.

Taylor then excused them for the day.

 

[redheart]

Trial still on hold while legal issue/s sorted out:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6154335-jury-not-present-at-ball-murder-trial/

Justice Gerry Taylor told jurors on Monday that a "significant legal point" needed to be resolved before the trial can continue.

On Monday, jurors were in the courtroom for just two minutes. On Tuesday, the jury was not present and is not expected to return until Thursday.

 

[redheart]

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...tigation-under-scrutiny-at-ball-murder-trial/

Police did not seize a cellphone belonging to a man who reportedly spent two consecutive weekends with Erin Howlett in the days leading up to her death, the Michael Ball murder trial was told on Monday.

James Baechlor apparently was seen kissing and using cocaine with Howlett at a wedding on Saturday, June 15, said Det. Brendan Westmorland of Waterloo Regional Police.

A witness reportedly saw Howlett go home with Baechlor that night, Westmorland said. The two also spent the following weekend together at a small party at a farm.

From June 20 to June 27, Howlett and Baechlor exchanged 105 text messages.

Defence lawyer Brennan Smart asked Westmorland if police took steps to get Baechlor's cellphone.

"Not that I know of," Westmorland said.

He said he did not try to get Baechlor's phone records.

Court heard Baechlor told police he had no phone contact with Howlett on June 27 — the day the prosecution alleges Howlett was killed.

Smart asked Westmorland if police learned the two did have phone contact that day.

"That's correct," he replied.

 

[redheart]

Tuesday, December 8:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...eo-of-howlett-on-last-day-she-was-seen-alive/

A video of Erin Howlett on the last day she was seen alive was viewed on Tuesday by jurors in the Michael Ball murder trial.

The silent black and white security camera video, taken at the Flow Café in Elmira, shows Howlett waiting, by herself, near the cash register to pay her bill. She is in the video for a few minutes. She has long blond hair and sunglasses on top of her head.

Before the video was shown, Det. Jeff Merrigan of Waterloo Regional Police testified he interviewed more than a dozen people as part of the investigation.

One person he spoke to was James Baechler's brother, Jeff. On Monday, the trial was told James Baechler apparently was seen kissing and using cocaine with Howlett at a wedding on June 15, 2013. The two also spent the following weekend together at a small party at a farm.

Merrigan said he seized several cellphones, including one belonging to Ball, and looked for surveillance video of Howlett at the Whale and Ale Pub, an establishment on Victoria Street in Kitchener that she occasionally visited. Merrigan helped get the Flow Café video.

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, December 9:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...rial-he-dropped-off-howlett-on-ball-s-street/

A close friend of Erin Howlett says he drove her to Chestnut Street in Kitchener — the street where Michael Ball lived — on the day the prosecution alleges Ball murdered her.

John-Peter (J.P.) Walton, 47, testified on Wednesday that when he dropped Howlett off in the afternoon of June 27, 2013, he saw three men in a driveway beside a residence.

Ball's friend, Michael Milosiewicz, testified he, Ball and another one of Ball's male friends were outside Ball's apartment on June 27 when a woman walked into the apartment around 3:20 p.m. and later sat on the porch.

Milosiewicz, 24, said he did not speak to the woman and did not know her name.

He said that when he left around 4 p.m., Ball, the woman and the male friend were still there.

 

[redheart]

Thursday, December 10:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ously-used-by-howlett-ball-murder-trial-told/

Eleven days after Erin Howlett was last seen alive, a man began using a cellphone she had previously used, the Michael Ball first-degree murder trial was told on Thursday.

Cody Cook used the phone for a little less than a month, starting on July 8, 2013, testified Danielle Fortier, a prosecution witness who works in the law enforcement support department of telecommunications company Rogers.

But on Wednesday, Ball's friend, Michael Milosiewicz, testified he, Ball and one of Ball's male friends — who he identified only as "Cody" — were outside Ball's apartment on June 27 when a woman walked into the apartment around 3:20 p.m.

Milosiewicz said that when he left around 4 p.m., Cody, Ball and the woman were still there. He did not identify the woman.

 

[redheart]

No coverage of the Erin Howlett trial this week.
I emailed the reporter who has been writing about it and he said that he'll be resuming coverage in the new year - right now he's covering another trial. He said this week's testimony has apparently been about cellphone evidence.

Hopefully it's OK for me to post this.

 

[redheart]

Coverage has resumed for Erin Howlett's murder trial. I was hoping to find a summary of what went on in court while the main reporter was covering another trial, but I don't see one.

From Tuesday, January 5:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...tt-described-by-friends-as-outgoing-amazing-/

A portrait of Erin Howlett emerged Tuesday at Michael Ball's first-degree murder trial.

Howlett, who had dated Ball, was an intelligent, outgoing and popular 28-year-old Elmira woman who enjoyed spending time at the cottage and going to baseball games and concerts, friends testified.

The former waitress at the Sip 'N Bite restaurant in Elmira had started on a path to become a Sun Life financial planner.

The flip side was that she also enjoyed illegal drugs.

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, January 6:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6221449-ball-calm-night-of-alleged-murder-trial-told/

Michael Ball seemed calm during a drug deal at 11:30 p.m. on the day that Erin Howlett was last seen alive, court heard on Wednesday.

Ball wasn't nervous, distracted or sweating when he sold seven grams of cocaine in the parking lot of a Shell gas station in Kitchener on June 27, 2013, testified the man who bought the drugs, Ryan Freer.

 

[redheart]

Thursday, January 7, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ry-looks-at-phone-records-in-kitchener-court/

He hasn't testified yet and can't be named, but the man who claims he helped Michael Ball dispose of Erin Howlett's body received a lot of attention on Thursday at Ball's murder trial.

The prosecution presented Bell and Telus phone records that show Ball and the man exchanged many text messages and some phone calls on June 27, 2013, the last day Howlett was seen alive.

Records also show that in the early hours of June 28, the man's cellphone interacted with the cell tower closest to Ball's apartment, suggesting the man could have been in the area.

 

[redheart]

Monday, January 11, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...me-howlett-sent-final-text-murder-trial-told/

Erin Howlett loved to text friends. She was involved in several conversations on the evening of June 27, 2013. She sent her final text at 9:44 p.m. When she didn't respond to replies, at least one friend was surprised.

Nine days later, Howlett's body was found inside a duffel bag in the Grand River.

On Monday at Michael Ball's murder trial, the prosecution emphasized that Ball — who also was a frequent cellphone user — did not text or phone anyone on June 27 from 9:41 p.m. until 9:53 p.m., according to Bell phone records.

A prosecution witness who can't be named will testify Ball admitted he killed Howlett on June 27 and will also say he helped Ball dispose of her body in the river, court has been told.

Records also show Ball and the man had phone contact many times on June 27 — including a call 10 minutes after Howlett's last text — but exchanged no messages from 10:22 p.m. to 2:51 a.m. on June 28.

But in a span of 15 minutes starting on June 28 at 2:52 a.m., Ball and the man exchanged 20 text messages.

 

[redheart]

Tuesday, January 12, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ught-about-killing-howlett-murder-trial-told/

A man who played high school football with Michael Ball says he didn't take it seriously when Ball said he thought about killing Erin Howlett.

"I thought he was just venting," prosecution witness Cody Cook said under cross-examination on Tuesday at Ball's murder trial.

Cook said Ball made the comment in June 2013 — he wasn't sure of the exact day — while they were drinking, using cocaine and playing video games in Ball's apartment at 50 Chestnut St. in Kitchener.

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, January 13, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ly-undercover-officer-ball-murder-trial-told/

A prosecution witness in the Michael Ball murder trial says a man he thought was a vigilante turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Cody Cook, who police believed helped dispose of Erin Howlett's body, testified on Wednesday that his girlfriend was terrified after a stranger pushed an envelope to her chest at Fairview Park mall.

Inside was a photo of Cook, 25, and Ball, 24, holding drinks during a night out. Drawn on the photo are black lines that look like prison bars. The caption on the photo is "Kingston Pen."

Cook, who was not charged and said he had nothing to do with it, testified police pressured him to say Ball murdered Howlett. Cook said Ball gave him no reason to believe he was involved.

On Tuesday, Cook testified he thought Ball was just "just venting" when he said in June, before Howlett went missing, he thought about killing her and had bought a duffel bag.

The prosecution contends that after Howlett arrived at Ball's apartment in the afternoon, she never left alive. But Cook said on Tuesday Howlett did leave. He said Ball would not leave her alone in his apartment because he believed she was stealing his drugs.

Questioned by Dietrich on Wednesday, Cook said he told the police she had left. Dietrich asked Cook to look through a police statement and find the part where he says she left. "I don't see it," Cook said.

 

[redheart]

Thursday, January 14, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...kehold-in-howlett-s-death-murder-trial-hears/

The forensic pathologist who did the autopsy on Erin Howlett says she couldn't determine the cause of death and can't rule out a drug overdose, chokehold, strangulation or positional asphyxia.

Bulakhtina said she found no evidence of injury, strangulation or anyone kneeling on Howlett's chest. She said finding certain evidence — if there was any — would be difficult due to decomposition.