Curtis Bonnell told police he deserved to die

Accused killer Curtis Bonnell told police he deserved to die, the jury at his first-degree murder trial heard on Thursday.

Bonnell, 32, of the Esgenoopetitj First Nation in northeastern New Brunswick, is charged with the first-degree murder of 16-year-old Hilary Bonnell in September 2009.

During a videotaped police interview, which was shown to the Miramichi courtroom, Bonnell questions why police didn't shoot him when they arrested him on Nov. 8, 2009 instead of using a Taser.

Lead investigator Sgt. Greg Lupson, who was a corporal at the time, puts his finger over Bonnell's heart and says: "You have to stop hurting inside."

The officer urges Bonnell to tell them where the body of Hilary, his first cousin, is located.

"Let's end this and find Hilary," Lupson said.

Throughout the interview, Lupsonpleads with Bonnell to do the right thing and repeatedly asks him to take them to Hilary's remains.

'Do the right thing'

He appeals to Bonnell's sense of honour, to his sense of his concern for his father, his uncle and the rest of the community.

Lupsonsays he doesn't want to hear any details about what happened the night Hilary died. He just wants to find her body.

He grabs Bonnell's arms, forces him to look into his eyes and peppers him with questions, asking whether she's buried, or in the water.

He asks Bonnell to help him bring Hilary home.

Lupsonlater shows Bonnell a photograph of his young son and says: "Help us solve this for your son. Otherwise, he'll grow up knowing you didn't do the right thing."

At first, Bonnell doesn't react. He yawns and ignores the officer.

But then he holds his son'sphotograph to his chest. He hangs his head, starts to sob and even throws up at one point.

Lupson asks Bonnell to get into a van with him and go for a drive to wherever Hilary is located.

"Do you have a helicopter?" Bonnell asks.

"We can arrange that. Where are we going?" the officer replies.

Evidence endswithcliff hanger

Bonnell agrees to show Lupson where Hilary's body is located, then changes his mind.

Another officer takes over and gives Bonnell some cigarettes and a glass of water.

Finally, after about six hours, Bonnell agrees to go with police in the helicopter. He says: "I need a hug" and Lupson gives him one just before they head out.

But Bonnell did not recognize anything from the air so they returned to the RCMP office, the courtroom heard.

They head out again, travelling by truck to the woods. Bonnell tells Lupson he wants closure.

But as the sun is setting, he can't find the spot where Hilary is buried.

That was the last the jury heard on the ninth day of the trial.

The Crown previously told the court that Bonnell led police to a remote wooded area near Tracadie-Sheila where Hilary's body was located.

The Crown alleges Bonnell picked up Hilary on Sept. 5, 2009, as the she was walking along Micmac Road in the northeastern community after a party.

Bonnell is accused of holding Hilary against her will, sexually assaulting her and killing her.

The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks.