Watch 5 crucial excerpts from Garnier's interrogation in Catherine Campbell's death - Action News
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Watch 5 crucial excerpts from Garnier's interrogation in Catherine Campbell's death

This week the jury in the murder trial of Christopher Garnier had to watch all 9 hours of his police interrogation following his arrest on Sept. 16, 2015, in the death of off-duty officer Catherine Campbell.

Questioning of Christopher Garnier took place over 9 at RCMP detachment in Lower Sackville

Christopher Garnier is on trial for second-degree murder. (CBC)

It can be difficult to watch at times.

But this week the jury in the murder trial of Christopher Garnierhad to watch all 9 hours of a video showinghis police interrogation following his arrest on Sept. 16, 2015, in the death of off-duty officer Catherine Campbell.

Garnier is on trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax for second-degree murder in Campbell's death and interfering with human remains. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The questioning was led by RCMP Cpl. Jody Allison. Throughout the interrogation, Garnier repeatedly sayshe'sbeen advised by a lawyer not to speak apoint he makes 64 times, his lead defence lawyer, Joel Pink,said this week.

But that doesn't stop the relentless barrage of questions and comments from Allison and a second officer, Det.-Const. Michelle Dooks-Fahie of Halifax Regional Police.

Just over halfway in,Garnierfinally starts to talk. But he doesn't begin talking about Campbell. Instead, he begins under heavy prodding with what he did in the days between her death and his arrest.

'What was that for?': Christopher Garnier interrogation video

7 years ago
Duration 4:08
Christopher Garnier describes the items found in his car in 2015 interrogation video.

The interrogationisat the RCMP detachment in Lower Sackville, ina drab greywindowless roomwith padded walls and a bare metal desk.It begins just hours after Campbell's body is discovered under the Halifax side of the Macdonald Bridge.

In the video, Allison is seen sitting directly across from Garnier with just a corner of the desk between them. Allison uses that desk to spread out photos to try to coax information from Garnier.

The photos include frames from a Sept. 11, 2015, security video at the Alehouse bar in downtown Halifaxthat shows Garnier and Campbell together. There isa photo of a man dragging a green compost bin near the apartment on McCully Streetwhere police say Campbell was killed. There is also a photo of Campbell's body.

Dooks-Fahie sits diagonally across from Garnier, her knee almost touching his. Several times during the interview, she reaches out to pathim. Throughout much of the interview, Garnier's right leg and arm shakes.

'She wasn't breathing': Christopher Garnier interrogation video

7 years ago
Duration 4:29
Christopher Garnier says he knew Catherine Campbell was dead when her body was placed into a green bin in 2015 police video.

Eventually, the two interrogators steer the conversation around to the events surrounding Campbell's death. But he starts with the green compost bin, which police say was used to transport Campbell's body to the Macdonald Bridge.

'She was bleeding': Christopher Garnier interrogation video

7 years ago
Duration 6:36
Christopher Garnier describes the scene at the McCully Street apartment in 2015 interrogation video.

When it comes to the actual events inside the apartment, Garnier's memory appears fragmented. The police suggest scenarios to him and give him multiple-choice questions to try to draw him out.

'My hands were on her neck': Christopher Garnier interrogation video

7 years ago
Duration 9:33
Christopher Garnier is prodded by police in 2015 interrogation video.

Near the end of the interview again with a great deal of prodding Garnier describes and demonstrates choking Campbell as she lay on the mattress of a pullout couch.

'Show me how that happened': Christopher Garnier interrogation video

7 years ago
Duration 3:35
Christopher Garnier asked to describe the positioning of his hands in 2015 interrogation video.