Dellen Millard shot Tim Bosma, co-accused's ex-girlfriend testifies - Action News
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Hamilton

Dellen Millard shot Tim Bosma, co-accused's ex-girlfriend testifies

Accused killer Mark Smich told his former girlfriend that Dellen Millard shot Tim Bosma before the two of them burned the Hamilton man's body in a livestock incinerator, court heard Thursday.

Marlena Meneses testifies both men were celebrating a 'mission' the day after Bosma vanished

Mark Smich's former girlfriend Marlena Meneses, 22. (Facebook)

Accused killer Mark Smich told his former girlfriend that DellenMillard shotTim Bosmabeforethe two of them burned his body in a livestock incinerator, Marlena Meneses testified Thursday.

The 22-year-old Meneses delivered some of the most dramatic testimony heard so far at the jury trial in Superior Court in Hamilton.

Menesestold a packed courtroom that Smich told herBosma was killed the night of May 6, 2013, when he took Millard and Smich on a test drive of a truck he was trying to sell.

"He said that Dell murdered him.That he shot him," Meneses testified, as members of the Bosma family became visibly emotional inside the courtroom. Bosma's wife Sharlenesat stone faced, while others cried.

"He told me he did nothing, that Dell did it all," she said."He told me that Mr. Bosma was gone, gone."

"What he told you in so many words was, they burned him, Dell shot him," assistant Crown attorney CraigFraser said.

"Yeah," Meneses responded.

She said she didn't ask why the 32-year-oldwas killed."I didn't want to know. I was with the guy. I didn't want to know anything."

Smich, 28, ofOakville, Ont., andDellenMillard, 30, of Toronto are charged with first-degree murder inBosma'sdeath. Both have pleaded not guilty.

I would say Mark cared forDellenmore than he cared for other people. He was in love with him.- Marlena Meneses

Meneses, 22,told the court Millard and Smichwere celebrating a successful "mission" the morning afterBosmavanished.

"They were just very happy, saying that they wanted to celebrate ... they didn't tell me exactly what they were celebrating,"Menesessaid. "They just said that the mission went well."

"Mission" was a slang term Millard and his friends sometimes used as a code for criminal activity, court has heard.

Meneses told the jury she knew the two planned to steal a truck. Millard and Smichhad talked about it in front of her in the days leading up to Bosma's disappearance.

"They just told me they were going for a test drive and might steal a truck," she said. "I already told them they shouldn't go, but nobody listened to me.

Mark Smich, 28, is seen in this police surveillance photo with then-girlfriend, Marlena Meneses, that was taken in 2013 before his arrest. (Court exhibit)

"I didn't really understand it, because from what I knew, Dellen had a lot of money ... if he wanted a truck, just go buy one."

She said Smich also told her he was given a gun after Millard was arrested, but that he disposed of it."He told me that he wrapped it in duct tape and buried it somewhere ... he said somewhere in a forest. He wouldn't tell me which one."

Menesesis yet another witnessonalonglist of people in Millard andSmich'ssocial circlewho knew something about the case, but didn't go to the police.

"I should have. I regret it. I could have stopped so much if I had gone to the police. I should have," she said, while dabbing her eyes in the witness box.

Meneses testified she told Smichrepeatedly that he should go to police, but he said no, because he "wanted to go to his sister's wedding."

Spectators lined up for hours to get a seat inside the courtroom some evenarguing in the line outside over spots. They heard about how Meneses and Smichmet at a Tim Hortons shop in Oakville, and how there was an immediate connection between the two.

"We just hit eyes, and they were all big, and it was like he was in love with me," she said. About a month after the two met, she moved in with Smich and dropped out of school. She's still a few credits shy of her high school diploma.

"We were pretty close, but, he wasn't always the greatest to me," Meneses testified.

This artist's rendering shows Marlena Meneses, left, assistant Crown attorney Craig Fraser, second from left, Dellen Millard, third from left, and Mark Smich in court at the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton today. (Pam Davies)

The witness also testified that she scrubbed toilets for Millard for no regular pay, and that Millard and Smich were "close like brothers."

"I would say Mark cared for Dellen more than he cared for other people. He was in love with him," she testified.

"You could just tell that was Mark's feelings towards Dellen."

She said hasn't spoken to Smich since his arrest in 2013.

"The day I got arrested, I just figured why even bother still being with him," she said. Meneses was arrested alongside Smich, but wasnever charged.

CBC reporter Adam Carteris in the courtroom each day reporting live on the trial. You can view a recap of his livebloghere:

On mobile and can't see the live blog? View it here

adam.carter@cbc.ca

Corrections

  • An earlier headline on this story said Marlena Meneses is Smich's girlfriend and the current trial is by judge alone. In fact, Meneses is Smich's former girlfriend and the Bosma case is being tried by a jury.
    Apr 21, 2016 6:39 PM ET