In a videotaped interview, RCMP asked Devin Morningstar to draw the outline of a man and indicate the spot where 18-year-old Baylee Wylie was stabbed.
Morningstar stabbed the piece of paper hard again and again.
The playing of the video of the police interrogation lasted all morning and most of the afternoon on Thursday in the murder trial of 22-year-old Marissa Shephard in Moncton.
Wylie’s body was found on December 17, 2015 in a burned-out townhouse at 96 Sumac St.
Shephard is accused of premeditated murder and arson with disregard for human life.
Refusal to testify
When testimony resumed before the jury on Thursday after a lengthy jury questioning, Sergeant James MacPherson was called to testify about his interview with Morningstar. It was recorded at the Codiac detachment on December 20, 2015, the same day Morningstar was arrested for murder.
At the start of the trial, 20-year-old Morningstar was called to testify three times. Each time he refused to take an oath, make a solemn statement or even answer questions.
Judge Zoel Dionne warned that refusal could result in a prison sentence, but this seemed to have no effect on Morningstar, who simply stood before the judge in handcuffs and shackles and refused again.
But on the videotape, Morningstar described the final hours of Baylee Wylie’s life in great detail.
Morningstar said he was with Wylie, Shephard and Tyler Noel at 96 Sumac, where the murder took place.
Morningstar described the complicated relationship between the four. He said he had only known Shephard for about five days, but was in love with her and wanted to be a father to her young child.
Morningstar said Shephard was Wylie’s girlfriend, but he had sex with her. He also alluded to a sexual encounter between Noel and Wylie.
Morningstar said the reason for Noel’s anger at Wylie was that both men wanted Shephard, “but I had her.”
Although the chronology of events that night was not clear from the interview, Morningstar said, “It was one long nightmare.”
At one point, Wylie’s face was wrapped in plastic wrap and a hole was poked in the wrap so he could breathe.
Things calmed down for a while when all four smoked a gram of crack, which “can make you paranoid,” Morningstar said.
Then Baylee Wylie was stabbed – Morningstar estimates that she was between 100 and 200 times.
To prove himself, Morningstar stabbed Wylie three times while Noel “led him through the story.”
At the beginning of the interview, Morningstar was asked if Shephard stabbed Wylie. He said yes and then, “I don’t know.”
But later on the tape, Morningstar said that most of the stabbings were committed by Noel.
“You made three, what about Marissa?” asked MacPherson.
“More than me – maybe 25, in the chest,” Morningstar replied.
After the attacks in the basement, Wylie found his way up the stairs to the living room.
– Court hearing: Forensic witness found woman’s DNA at crime scene
– Devin Morningstar again refuses to testify in the murder trial of Marissa Shephard
“The boy is a real guy,” Morningstar said, describing what had happened.
Lying on the couch, Wylie said, “I love you, Missy. I can’t believe you did that.”
At one point in the videotape, MacPherson told Morningstar that everyone would see the interview, even in court.
“You realize I’m dead,” Morningstar said. “Yeah, if I ever get out of prison, I’m dead.”
Throughout the interview, Morningstar mentioned that he had spoken to a lawyer, but continued to talk to MacPherson.
“You are all alone here,” said MacPherson.
It was the first day the jury was in court since early April. The trial within the trial, which was held without a jury, ended on Wednesday.
On your mobile? Follow our live coverage.
