‘I’m not fighting with someone I love’

Trial for Joel Lawrence Clow hears unsigned note to Clow found in garbage outside of his home after Traci Lynch’s death

A police search of Joel Lawrence Clow’s home found a bra, a woman’s sneaker and other women’s clothing items that were wet in bags covered by a pile of clothes, a P.E.I. Supreme Court judge heard Tuesday.

RCMP forensic identification specialist Sgt. Julie Rix gave details about her examination of the scene that included searching Clow’s home and garbage after Traci Lynch’s death.

Rix, who was at the scene five days in a row, said there were no signs of a woman living in Clow’s home during the initial search. The RCMP later found several wet items of women’s clothing tied up in bags, including some that were mixed in with household garbage.

Clow is on trial after pleading not guilty to first-degree murder in Lynch’s death after her body was found in a wheelbarrow on his property on July 24, 2015. A statement of admissions presented in court said Clow acknowledged his physical acts must be responsible for Lynch’s unlawful death.

Rix said Lynch’s body was found naked under a tarp covered with a raincoat, a blanket, a cushion and a stretched red T-shirt that was tied in knots in three places.

The police also found makeup along with a Maritime Electric bill and a bank receipt in Lynch’s name in the garbage, among other items.

One of those items was a handwritten, unsigned note addressed to Clow that said the writer had no fight left in them.

“I’m not fighting with someone I love,” the note said.

A pair of pink sneakers and three pairs of flip-flops that Rix said didn’t appear worn out were also found in another garbage bin.

Rix said she sprayed parts of Clow’s home with chemicals that become fluorescent when there is a possible presence of blood.

It showed possible traces of blood in multiple places throughout Clow’s home, including various spots in his bathroom on the floor, around the sink and in the tub, Rix said.

She also testified other things can react with the chemical, such as wallpaper that lit up in Clow’s bathroom.

Rix said during her search of the home she found what appeared to be hash in a bag with the wet clothing.

In another room, the RCMP found a pill grinder and a baggie of what Rix said she presumed was marijuana.

There was also a plate in the microwave with a white substance and a straw on it, Rix testified, but said under cross examination she wasn’t aware of any tests on it.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Nancy Key gave her decision on the admissibility of evidence heard last week during a voir dire.

A voir dire is a trial within a trial to determine if evidence will be admissible.

In her decision, Key addressed each of the relevant witnesses’ testimony and said the voir dire wouldn’t have been needed for some of it to be admissible. She admitted the testimony into evidence along with text messages from the phone belonging to a woman who started testifying but couldn’t continue for medical reasons.

The trial resumes today with the lead investigator expected to take the stand.