Court sees video of alleged murderer Greg Fertuck showing undercover RCMP around gravel pit

The trial of Greg Fertuck watched video Thursday of Fertuckshowingundercover RCMP officersaround a gravel pit near Kenaston, Sask. footage secretly taken by policeposing as Fertuck's friends just days beforehewas charged with murdering his estranged wife, Sheree.

Fertuck was charged with first-degree murder in June 2019after he disclosed to the officers, who were posingas criminals seeking to gain Fertuck'strust,that he shot Sheree twice and then dumped her body in a rural area near Kenastonand the pit, the trial has heard.

His judge-only trial at Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon began five weeks ago. Fertuck has pleaded not guilty.

The video shownin court Thursday began withFertuck meeting with several male undercover officersat the James Hotel in downtown Saskatoon.

The group milled about the parking lot for a bit.

Then, according to one of the undercover officers who testified in court, the group drove toward Kenaston and the gravel pit.

Once there, Feruck could be seen in the video pointing out features at a gravel pit, before the group gotinto a car,drove out to a field and walked toward some trees.

The audio throughout the video was hardto hear on the court'sTV monitor.

Court hears tape of sting operation

For days, thetrial has been hearing testimony from two of the officers involved in the so-called Mr. Big sting targeting Fertuck.

But on Thursday, the courtroom finally heard tape of Fertuck's interactions with officers, beginning with audio.

In the first tape, dated Oct. 16, 2018 more than two years after the December 2015 day when Sheree disappeared an undercover officer spoke to Fertuck about the company he worked for. He told Fertuck the operation hadboth a legitimate side hauling carsand another, far more lucrative "side of the house."

"Nothing with drugs," the officer added.

"Let me work on this side of the house," Fertuck said.

"You're in, brother," the officer said.

Several times during the conversation, Fertuck could be heard saying, "I know nothing, I see nothing."

His voice sounded slurred at times.

"Hekept reiterating that he wanted to be on the criminal side of the operation," the officer testified in court.

Fertuck had been drinking before he was picked up, the officer said.

Friendly overtures

The degree to which officers worked to maintain their fakedtieswith Fertuck was also outlined in the officer's testimony on Thursday.

In one of the "scenarios" intended to cement their cover and relationship with Fertuck, the officers let Fertuck accompany them on a trip to B.C. where they picked up an associate being released from prison.

The whole thing was staged.

After Fertuckreportedly fell, hit his head and later fell again, officers brought hima pizza while he was in the hospital. He'dcomplainedaboutthe food there, court heard.

In the second tape played in court, taken on Feb. 16, 2019,officers visited Fertuck at ahome as he recovered from his fall.

Much of the tape was hard to hearwhen played on the court TV, though oneofficer could be heard repeatedly asking Fertuck about his weight loss.

"You look good," an officersaid.

Four months later, following dozens of other staged scenarios,Fertuck was charged in Sheree's death.

The Crown's case is expected to last at least a couple more weeks.