During day four of the ongoing Tony Lawrence Warken manslaughter trial at Moose Jaw Court of Queen’s Bench, the accused took the stand.
“We know from the pathologist the cause of death is strangulation, that requires explanation and I would like to call my witness to the stand to find out,” legal aid Merve Shaw told the chief justice and jury on Thursday before his client spoke to the court for the first time since his trial began on Monday.
Bengough’s 67-year-old Warken faces a charge of manslaughter in relation to the death of Gordon Gregson on Nov. 1, 2009.
During Shaw’s questioning, the attorney showed Warken a photo taken at the crime scene depicting Gregson’s basement where the death occurred.
“There seems to be two cases of (Molson) Canadian, do you know who bought these?” Shaw asked Warken as he pointed out the cases of beer in the photo.
“I think Gordon did,” Warken replied.
During the course of questioning from Warken’s legal aid and Crown prosecution, a considerable amount of time was spent discussing the accused’s self-confessed alcoholism.
“When did you have your first drink?” Shaw asked in reference to the day Gregson died.
“Probably at 9 a.m. when it opened,” answered Warken, referring to buying alcohol.
Warken told his legal aid he believed he consumed around eight beers and half a mickey of rye whiskey leading up to the death of Gregson.
For more of this story, pick-up the next issue of the Times-Herald.
