Tim Bosma trial: Dellen Millard tried to influence witnesses from behind bars

DellenMillard attempted to use his girlfriend as his "secret agent" from behind bars to influence the testimony of key Crown witnesses in the TimBosmacase, court heard Thursday at the trial of the two men accused of killing the Hamilton man.

Millard's girlfriend wiped down trailer for prints

9 years ago

Duration 2:44

Christina Noudga, 24, charged as accessory after the fact in Tim Bosma case

ChristinaNoudgareturned to court for her second day of testimony, as assistant Crown attorney TonyLeitchread out pages and pages of letters Millard sent to her from jail.

The 24-year-old woman has been charged as an accessory after the fact in theBosmacase. It is unclear if Noudga and Millardare still romantically linked.

• Noudgaperformed 'sexual favours' on Millard after dropping offBosma'struck
• DellenMillard 'gave me the creeps,' co-accused's ex says
• MarkSmich'sex-girlfriend wanted to marry accused killer

"You said you wanted to be a secret agent. Be mine?" one letter from Millard read. "Here's your chance to be a covert operative."

Noudga, of Toronto, is the Crown's last witness at the trial of Millard, 30, of Toronto, and MarkSmich, 28, ofOakville, Ont., who have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Millard wrotetoNoudgaaboutSmich, whom he referred to as "treacherous Mark."

"It was Mark who f--ked up a truck robbery, not me," Millard wrote. "Just because I helped clean up Mark's mess, does not mean I should also pay for it."

'A huge blow to the prosecution's case'

In some letters Millard writes about how he is "treated like HannibalLecter" in jail,and often professes his love forNoudgasometimes inpseudo-Shakespearianverse.

He also repeatedly talksabout the case against him, and imploresNoudgato reach out to witnesses like AndrewMichalskiwhom he refers to as a "f--king pansy scared into giving up a true friend."

"If Andrew were to testify that police coached him on what they wanted to hear, before his statement was given, that would be a huge blow to the prosecution's case," he wrote.

"If he knew that his words were going to get me a life sentence, he would want to change them. Show him how he can, and he will change them."

Michalskipreviously testified that Millard asked him if he shouldsteal a truck from "theassholeor the nice guy,"just days beforeBosmavanished.

"Andrew is the only evidence of any planning," Millard said in another letter. "He must say he did not hear any planning of any kind. Ever."

Noudgatold the court she thought Millard wanted her to talk toMichalskiabout changing his testimony. She said she never did."I didn't think it was right," she said.

Bosma, 32, who lived in the suburban Ancaster area of Hamilton, vanished on May 6, 2013, after taking two men on a test drive in a pickup truck he was trying to sell. Investigators later found charred human remains, believed to belong to Bosma, in a livestock incinerator on Millard's farm in Waterloo, Ont.

Millard andNoudgawere put on a court ordered no contact list when Millard was charged withBosma'smurder, butNoudgatestified she was not made aware of that until months after the fact.

Protecting credibility paramount, Millard writes

Noudgatestified that she received Millard'sletters from his mother,MadeleineBurns, and that she also gave Burns letters she wrote for Millard.

There was no evidence presented as to how Burns got her son's letters.

Millard also wrote about "getting our stories straight" in his letters toNoudga, and asked about what she was "willing to do."

"Protecting your credibility, and preparing to give testimony, is how you can help me most," he wrote. "Bringing Andrew back to my side, brings me back from losing, and puts me at a tie. Your testimony though, will be what wins it."

Wiping away fingerprints

The jury also heard Thursday about howNoudgawiped down the trailer containing TimBosma'struck under the directionof Millard's mother while it was sitting in her driveway.

Noudgaand Burns were at a hotel "having some wine" and "brainstorming" hours after Millard was arrested when they decided to wipe down the trailer, which they both had touched,Noudgatestified.

"My biggest concern when we were discussing it was,holy shit, we touched the trailer,"Noudgasaid. At that point in the investigation, it hadn't been determined thatBosmawas dead, and there was hope he might still be alive.

Noudgatold the jury that aftershe and Burns left the hotel and picked up cash andchequesfrom Millard's home, they went to Burns's home where she wiped down the trailer while Burns showed her the areas she had touched.

They then went back to the hotel,which they had rented to get away from the glare of the media, court heard.The two shared a room that night, butnothing about wiping downthe prints was discussed,Noudgasaid.Instead, there was "more brainstorming, hugging, a lot of crying" and"drinking copious amounts of wine."

Much like yesterday's testimony,Noudgarepeatedly said she couldn't recall details about her discussions with Millard, or specific timelines for the night they moved the trailer or The Eliminator incinerator in which human bone fragments were eventually found.

She could, however, remember other details, such as drinking wine with Burns, specific conversations they had, the type of car she drove, and a conversation she had withSmich, in which he said "they're in deep shit."

Passing off a toolbox

Noudga also described how after she and Millard moved The Eliminator, they went to mutual friendMattHagerman'shouseand Millard gave him a toolbox.

She testified thatMillard andHagerman"laughed and giggled" when they were talking, but she didn't hear what they were talking about.

Hagermangave a very different account of the encounter when he testified, describing the exchange through tears from the witness box.

CBC reporterAdam Carteris in the courtroom each day reporting live on the trial. You can read a recap of hisbloghere.

On mobile and can't see the liveblog? View it here.

adam.carter@cbc.ca