A bomb expert is describing in court today how an Innisfail mother activated the bomb alleged to have killed her.
Innisfail financial advisor Brian Malley, 57, is on trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on charges laid after a package exploded in the hands of Vicky Shachtay, 24, at her Innisfail home on the morning of Nov. 25, 2011.
Evidence on charges of first-degree murder, causing a fatal explosion and sending an explosive device is being heard before Justice Kirk Sisson and a jury.
In court today, bomb expert Reginald William Gulliford, a civilian contracted to the RCMP, described how a switch rigged to the packaging activated the detonator in a piece of pipe filled with gunpowder.
Earlier in the day, court had seen and heard a recorded interview in which an RCMP investigator questions Malley about various items he had purchased, including light bulbs, electrical cord and gunpowder.
Malley repeatedly states that he wants to wait for his lawyer before answering any questions.
He does converse with the officer, however, and acknowledges that he bought smokeless gunpowder to reload shotgun shells.
Gulliford’s testimony continues this afternoon with reports from his findings and analysis of evidence gathered from the scene.