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

[redheart]

Monday, January 18, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...mine-if-drugs-played-role-in-howlett-s-death/

A forensic toxicologist testifying at Michael Ball's murder trial on Monday said she could not determine whether drugs played a role in Erin Howlett's death.

Inger Bugyra of the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto said she tested a sample of Howlett's liver and found evidence of cocaine and methamphetamine use. She could not determine when Howlett last used drugs or the level of drug toxicity in her system when she died.

 

[redheart]

Tuesday, January 19, 2016: http://www.therecord.com/news-story...-warwick-set-to-testify-at-ball-murder-trial/

A prosecution witness in the Michael Ball murder trial whose name was protected by a publication ban can now be named and is set to take the stand on Wednesday.

His name is Daniel Warwick and he will testify Ball told him he admitted killing Erin Howlett by choking her and then kneeling on her chest, Crown prosecutor Roger Dietrich said in November during his opening address to the jury.

Warwick is also expected to testify he and Ball put Howlett's body in a black duffel bag and together they dropped it in the Grand River — near the Walter Bean Trail in Kitchener — after dark.

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, January 20, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...hat-did-it-witness-testifies-at-murder-trial/

A man fresh out of jail after serving a drug sentence wasted no time on Wednesday giving his account of what happened to Erin Howlett.

"Michael Ball was the one that did it," prosecution witness Daniel Warwick testified moments after taking the stand at Ball's murder trail. "He choked her and we put her in a bag and put it in the river."

Warwick said Ball arranged to pick him up at Warwick's residence at night on June 27. He said Ball told him he needed help with something but didn't provide details.

Ball arrived between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Warwick said. Court has heard Howlett's last phone contact with anyone was at 9:44 p.m.

Warwick testified Ball drove him to his basement apartment at 50 Chestnut St. and asked him to wait at the top of the stairs.

Then, he said, Ball asked him to grab a big black duffel bag and two pairs of gloves from under the stairs.

Warwick said he got the items, went into Ball's bedroom and saw Howlett wrapped up in blankets on the bed.

"She was just laying there lifeless."

Warwick said he followed Ball's instructions. "I held the bag open enough so she could go in it."

Ernewein asked Warwick why he continued to text Ball after what happened to Howlett.

"Money," he replied. "He makes me money."

 

[redheart]

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...on-witness-defence-lawyer-tells-murder-trial/

Erin Howlett died of an overdose of drugs supplied by a prosecution witness who claims Michael Ball admitted he killed her, the defence alleged on Thursday in a Kitchener courtroom packed with onlookers.

Drug dealer Daniel Warwick knew a death by his drugs wouldn't look good and knew Ball had previously said he thought about killing Howlett and putting her body in a duffel bag, defence lawyer Brennan Smart said.

So after Howlett overdosed, Warwick put her body in a duffel bag and with the help of James Baechler — who reportedly had been dating Howlett — threw it in the Grand River, knowing the police would suspect Ball, Smart said.

Warwick acknowledged he often received drugs in duffel bags.

On Wednesday, Warwick testified Ball admitted he killed Howlett on June 27, 2013, by choking her and kneeling on her chest. He said he and Ball threw a black duffel bag containing Howlett's body in the Grand River near the Walter Bean Trail in Kitchener.

 

[redheart]

Monday, January 25, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...lice-didn-t-feed-him-info-in-howlett-s-death/

Daniel Warwick says police did not feed him details of their theory of how Erin Howlett died.

Asked at Michael Ball's murder trial on Monday who told him what happened to Howlett, Warwick said, "Mike Ball."

Warwick, a prosecution witness who said he often supplied drugs for Ball to sell, alleges Ball admitted he choked Howlett and then knelt on her chest. Warwick said he and Ball put her body in a black duffel bag and threw it in the Grand River after dark on June 27, 2013.

On the stand last Thursday, Warwick seemed to agree with a defence contention that he told police what Ball allegedly told him only after learning police believed Howlett was choked and knelt upon.

But on Monday, re-examined by Crown prosecutor Melissa Ernewein, Warwick said that's not true.

On Monday, Warwick expanded, saying Ball called him "an idiot for telling anybody." Warwick said he had told someone what had happened.

After refreshing his memory by looking at a previous police statement, Warwick added that Ball also said if Warwick didn't "fix" what he said, Ball would "take all my friends down with him."

 

[dyannaON]

I can't wait for justice for Erin. My fiancé works in Elmira, it's a tiny town. Erin was his favourite waitress. I never had the pleasure of meeting her but can tell she was an amazing young lady. Justice is coming!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[redheart]

Tuesday, January 26, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...g-with-howlett-because-he-was-upset-with-her/

A man the defence alleges helped dispose of Erin Howlett's body had planned to meet her the day she died but said he didn't because he was upset with her, Michael Ball's murder trial was told on Tuesday.

James Baechler did not provide this information to his friend — Howlett's brother, Dane Howlett — when Howlett was searching for her after she went missing in 2013, court heard.

Baechler had previously dated Erin Howlett, the trial was told, and they may have been dating again at the time of her death.

 

[redheart]

Thursday, January 28, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6254287-prosecution-in-ball-murder-trial-rests-its-case/

The prosecution rested its case against Michael Ball on Thursday after testimony from a police officer who interviewed a witness who claims Ball confessed to killing Erin Howlett.

Sgt. Richard Dorling of Waterloo Regional Police testified Daniel Warwick made the statement in an interview on Nov. 6, 2013, two weeks before Ball was arrested.

"Did you tell him what to say?" Crown prosecutor Roger Dietrich asked Dorling.

"Absolutely not," he replied.

Defence lawyer Brennan Smart suggested police zeroed in on Ball as the suspect, got friendly with Warwick and fed him information to get him to point the finger at Ball and protect himself.

 

[redheart]

Monday, February 8, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ence-defence-tells-jury-in-ball-murder-trial/

A man who met Erin Howlett at a Kitchener nightclub eight months before she died testified that he met up with her socially numerous times, at times in his car and at least twice at the Travelodge motel in Cambridge where they snorted cocaine together.

Robert Quinlan, now 47, met Howlett at Club Abstract in October 2013. The pair had drinks together and, after the club closed, they smoked cocaine, the trial of Michael Ball heard Monday.

Quinlan said that in early June 2013, he and Howlett discussed starting a relationship together. Quinlan said he was surprised considering the age difference, but he was open to a relationship with her.

.....

Monday was the first day for the defence to present its case.

 

[redheart]

Tuesday, February 9, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6270672-ball-murder-trial-hears-of-naked-fire-jumps-/

The jury in the Michael Ball murder trial sat in the courtroom for just two hours on Tuesday, but a lot happened.

Defence witness Adam Redmond testified he, Christopher Smith, James Baechler and Erin Howlett took off their clothes one night for what he called "naked fire jumps."

Meanwhile, Baechler's brother, Jeff, told court he recalls speaking to Howlett in person at his own house on the weekend of June 29 and 30, 2013. The prosecution alleges Ball, 24, killed Howlett, 28, a few days earlier, on June 27.

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, February 10, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...efence-witness-who-saw-truck-parked-at-trail/

Baechler's older brother, Jeff, testified he doesn't know for sure when he last saw Erin Howlett.

On Tuesday, questioned by the defence, he said he recalled talking to her at his house — where his brother also lived at the time — on the weekend of June 29 and 30, 2013. That is a few days after the date the prosecution alleges Ball killed Howlett.

"I am horrible with dates," he said on Wednesday under cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Roger Dietrich.

Dietrich suggested Baechler has no independent recollection of when he last saw her.

"That is fair, yes," he replied.

 

[OkieGranny]

Michael Ball has been testifying in his own defense. Live Twitter updates at link:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ies-in-own-defence-at-kitchener-murder-trial/

 

[redheart]

Wow! I didn't realize Ball was going to testify.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...l-testifies-at-his-first-degree-murder-trial/

On Tuesday, Ball said he never bought a duffel bag. He said he was only trying to sound "tough" when he told people he thought about getting one.

Bond asked him if he regrets making the comment.

"Absolutely — look where I've ended up," he said.

Ball was shown a text exchange he had with a friend on June 19, 2013. Ball had planned to see Howlett and have sex.

"Hah, OK, don't kill her," the friend wrote.

"Not today, haha," Ball replied.

Ball said they were just kidding around.

 

[redheart]

More testimony from Ball, February 17th, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ll-erin-ball-tells-first-degree-murder-trial/

Dietrich reminded Ball that prosecution witness Ryan Jacobs earlier testified Ball said he felt like killing Howlett and bought the biggest duffel bag he could find at K-W Surplus, not far from Ball's apartment.

"I love that place," Ball testified on Wednesday.

Dietrich asked him if duffel bags are kept at the front of K-W Surplus.

"I don't know where they're at in the store," Ball replied, adding he doesn't recall telling Jacobs he bought a bag.

Dietrich pointed to a text message where Ball said, "I bought duct tape and a bag big enough."

Cook, who was with Jacobs when Ball allegedly talked about a duffel bag, testified Ball said it was a black bag.

Dietrich ended the day by showing on the courtroom projection screen a photo of a zipped-up black duffel bag containing Howlett's body.

 

[redheart]

More testimony from Ball - Thursday, February 18, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...-we-were-dating-or-anything-ball-told-police/

The day after Erin Howlett's body was found in the Grand River, Michael Ball told police his relationship with her was never serious.

"It wasn't like we were dating or anything," Ball says in a recorded police statement played by the prosecution at his murder trial on Thursday.

"We were never girlfriend/boyfriend."

The police officer asks him if the relationship was something like "friends with benefits." Yes, Ball says.

Earlier this week, Ball told court he and Howlett became close in May 2013. She would often spend the night at his Kitchener apartment.

"I loved her," Ball testified on Tuesday.

 

[redheart]

Monday, February 22, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...-while-recording-of-defence-witness-prepared/

The jury in the trial of Michael Ball sat in the courtroom for just one minute on Monday.

...

The jury remained out as the prosecution, defence and judge discussed possible edits to upcoming evidence from Christopher Smith.

Smith testified at Ball's preliminary hearing but will not take the stand at the trial. Rather, a recording of some of the evidence he gave at the hearing will be played in court.

 

[redheart]

Tuesday, February 23, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...d-speed-days-before-she-died-ball-trial-told/

Erin Howlett often used cocaine and snorted "speed" just days before she died, says a man who spent a lot of time with her.

James Baechler's testimony on Tuesday at Michael Ball's murder trial ties in with the defence contention that Howlett died of a drug overdose.

Baechler, who described his relationship with Howlett as "kind of friends with benefits," told court that one night she snorted twice as much cocaine as he did.

He said Howlett would often use cocaine on weekends, starting after dinner and continuing into the early morning.

One party a few weeks before she disappeared lasted "maybe two days," said Baechler, a witness called by the defence.

He said he and Howlett snorted speed at a friend's place on June 24, 2013.

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, February 24, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ht-end-up-in-a-river-ball-murder-trial-hears/

Two weeks before Erin Howlett disappeared, her boyfriend raised the possibility that she might wind up in a river, the Michael Ball murder trial heard on Wednesday.

Questioned by defence lawyer Brennan Smart, James Baechler acknowledged telling a friend, "I just hope we don't find her in a river some day."

Following his testimony, the defence rested its case. Jury deliberations will probably begin next Wednesday.

 

[redheart]

Closing arguments - Tuesday, March 1, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...e-prosecutor-tells-jury-in-ball-murder-trial/

Ball had seen sexual texts from other men on Howlett's phone, Dietrich said.

"Did you confront her bro?" Cook asks Ball in a text.

"Naw man, wasn't worth it," Ball replies. "I was gonna end up beating the s--- out of her if I confronted her."

Ball adds: "Seriously I contemplated tying her up and getting a duffel bag lol. Disrespectful *****."

In another text, Ball wrote: "I bought duct tape and a bag big enough. I was seriously gonna do it."

"There it is in black and white," Dietrich told the jury.

He noted Ball said he doesn't recall sending the texts because he was drinking excessively. He doesn't deny sending them but maintains he never bought a bag.

Dietrich pointed to comments Ball made to friends. Ryan Jacobs testified Ball told him in mid-June he was upset after learning Howlett was stealing from him.

"He wanted to kill her," Jacobs said. "He said he went to K-W Surplus and bought the biggest bag he could find."

Jacobs said he thought Ball was drunk but found his comments disturbing.

Ball's second cousin, Chase Renaud, said he was also there for the conversation. He said Ball mentioned he had bought a black duffel bag.

Dietrich showed the jury a photo of the bag containing Howlett's body.

"You know what's in that bag," the prosecutor said. "That bag is black."

 

[redheart]

Wednesday, March 2, 2016:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6373087-jury-deliberating-in-michael-ball-murder-trial/

Michael Ball's fate now rests in the hands of six women and six men.

The jury in Ball's murder trial began deliberating Wednesday and had not reached a verdict by late afternoon.

.....

he jury has several choices: It can find Ball not guilty or guilty of first-degree murder. It can also find him not guilty of first-degree murder but guilty of second-degree murder or manslaughter.

To convict Ball of first-degree murder, the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he unlawfully caused Howlett's death and either meant to kill her or meant to cause her harm while knowing it could kill her. For first-degree murder, the jury must also rule the killing was planned and deliberate.

If jurors conclude Ball intended to kill Howlett but it was not planned and deliberate, they could find Ball guilty of second-degree murder. If jurors rule he caused her death unlawfully but with no intent to kill, they could convict him of manslaughter.

Taylor said if jurors conclude Howlett died of a drug overdose, as suggested by the defence, they must rule Ball is not guilty of first-degree murder.