Accused family killer was angry at brother, jury told

A Manitoba man accused of killing his parents and brother in 2005 was angry with his brother, a jury in the triple-murder trial heard Wednesday.

Denis Jerome Labossiere is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents Fernand Labossiere, 78, and Rita, 74,as well as his brother Remi, 44.

The trial for Labossiere and his co-accused, Michel Hince, began this week in Winnipeg.

The three Labossiere family members were found dead in the basement of their farm house in St. Leon, Man., after a fire in November 2005. It was later determined that they had been shot.

Lifelong St. Leon resident Bernard Grenier testified Wednesday that he was called to the blaze thatmorning as a member of the local volunteer fire department.

Grenier, who at the time was Jerome Labossiere's brother-in-law, told the court that he was tasked with telling other members of the Labossiere family about the deaths.

Farm finances at issue

Grenier also recalled conversations he had with Jerome Labossiere before and after the farm house fire.

Labossiere was angry with his brother, Remi, over the finances of the family farm, Grenier testified.

"Jerome was upset that Remi was pissing away the family farmhe was not happy with what Remi had done with the finances of the farm," Grenier said in court.

Also on Wednesday, a fire investigations specialist told the court that some kind of chemical explosion occurred in the farmhouse, likely from gasoline poured on the main floor and basement.

The trial has adjourned for this week and will resume Monday with testimony from more Crown witnesses.