Melissa Richmond's lover 'scared' about her soldier husband's reaction

The man who was having an affair with awoman found murdered in July 2013 told police he was worried what would happen if her Canadian soldier husband found out, an Ottawa court heard Thursday.

Howard Richmond admitted to killing his28-year-old wife Melissa Richmond but pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at the outset of his trial on Tuesday. His lawyers have argued he is not criminally responsible becausehe was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after six tours of duty at the time of the killing.

Her body was foundin a deep ditch near Ottawa's South Keys Shopping Centre on July 28, 2013, three days after he reported hermissing.

• Howard Richmond admits to killing wife while suffering fromPTSD

OPPConst. JeremyGeurtstestified Thursday that on July 25, 2013, he went through Melissa Richmond'scell phone and found that the majority of her text messages were to a man namedJeff Thornton, who was married to another woman.

It was clear that they cared for each other.- OPP Const. Jeremy Geurts

The Richmonds were close friends with the couple, but Thornton and Melissa Richmond's textsshowed a relationship that was "closer than just friends," Geurts testified.

"It was clear they cared for each other and were sharing thoughts," Guerts said.

Later that day, Thornton admitted to him that they were having an affair and that they'd developedan "emotional and physical connection," Geurts testified.

Thornton said he was worried Howard Richmond would "come after" him if he learned of the relationship, and that he was "scared Melissa wouldn't be around anymore if he found out," Geurts testified.

Thornton added that he'd activated the GPS unit on Melissa Richmond's phone so he could track her, Guerts said.

Discrepancies in officer's notes

Geurts is the latest OPP officer to testify at HowardRichmond's trial, which began Monday at theOntario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa.

Earlier on Thursday, Richmond's defence team pointedout discrepancies betweenthe testimony of differentOPP officer, Const. Tim Broder,and the officer's handwritteninvestigative notes from 2013,taken the day the officerinterviewed the accused.

Broderhad testified on Wednesday that Richmond, then 52,acted strangely when he came forward to police to report that his wifewas missing.

During the policeinterview before his wife'sbody was found, HowardRichmond's behaviour was "odd,"slow androbotic, he showed no emotionand acted like someone on medication when he was speaking about his missing wife, Broder testified.

The accused hadn't called her parents,Broder said, but had taken the time to makea list of what she was wearing as well as the names of her friends.

The officer said that at one point during the interview Richmond clenched his fists and was rocking back and forth. When Broder asked if Richmond had killed his wife, Richmond took a long pause before saying no, Broder told court.

Actions not typical ofworried husband, officer says

Overall, Richmond's actions were not consistent with those of a typical worried husband, Brodertestified, though at one point Richmond did put his head in his hands and cry, Broder said.

During cross-examination Thursday,Howard Richmond's defence lawyer, JosephAddelman,said Broder'snotes from the interview, written the day of the interview, don't ever characterize Richmond's behaviour as"odd."

Broderagreed, but said his memory of Richmond's actionsremainclear despite not being reflectedin his notes of the interview.

Addelman also pointed out that Broderdescribed Richmond's behaviour as "very emotional" in his 2013 notes, but that during his testimony, Brodersaid Richmond wasn't emotional.

Broder admitted he should have written "not emotional," and that not doing sowas his mistake.Addelmanthenasked Broderif he was admitting to failing as a police officer or if he was not telling the truth.

The Crown objected and the judge agreed, saying there are other possible reasons Broderforgot to write the word "not" in his notes.

Brodertestifiedthat while hewishes he had taken more notes during the interview, he stands by his memory and was not misleading the court.

Soldier admits to killing wife but blames PTSD

Richmond's defence is arguing that hewas suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder when he stabbed his wife to death with a knife and a screwdriver, then dumped her body in an Ottawa ditch, and that Richmond is therefore not criminally responsible for his actions.

He completed six tours of duty for the Canadian Armed Forces;three in Afghanistan, two in Bosnia and one in Cyprus.He remains a Warrant Officer employed as a geomatics technician.

The court also heardWednesday that the couple's marriage had been deteriorating and that Melissa Richmond was having an affair.

Her mother, Millie Evans, testified that Melissa was unhappy and considering separation.