Trial starts for Edmonton MP Peter Goldring

Peter Goldring's trial for refusingto provide a breath sample started on Thursday with evidence from the officer who pulled him over in December 2011.

Goldring, the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, was stopped after attending a political fundraiser in north Edmonton.

Const. Trevor Shelrud told the court that Goldring locked himself inside his Ford Explorer and refused to acknowledge him while he was talking on his cell phone.

Shelrud testified thatthe MP was was "snarky" and "dimissive" and shouted that he was on the phone.

Shelrud then made several "stern" requests for Goldring to roll down the window and unlock the door.

Normally, Shelrud would smash the window and arrest someone to behaved this way, but after checking Goldring's claim that he was a Member of Parliament, he decidedto callhis supervisor. Sgt. Conrad Moschansky, instead.

Eventually, Moschanskywas able to reach in the window and unlock the door. Goldring was put in handcuffs and placed under arrest.

Lawyer challenges officer's testimony

Defence lawyer Dino Bottos challenged Shelrud on why Goldring's alleged belligerent behaviour didn't appear in the notes he took that night.Bottos saidthat Goldring was simply asking questions about why he was pulled over and was waiting for the supervisor to get to the scene before he answered any more questions.

Bottos alsoquestionedthe officer's testimonythat Goldring had onlyrolled his window down four inches, asking how Moschansky was able to reach inside and unlock the door if the gap was so small.

Shelrud's testimony was given during a voir dire, or a trial within a trial. The judge will have to decide how much of the testimony can be admitted as evidence

Goldring has pleaded not guilty to the charge. He has said that he only consumed one beer that night and was not driving drunk.