Victim was afraid of accused, trial told

Man had knife ‘strapped’ near boot

The murder trial of Wayne Bell is underway with the jury hearing from several witnesses and the prosecutor’s opening address.

Bell, 67, is charged with firstdegree murder in the 2016 death of Marilyn Mitton. Mitton was in a relationship with Bell and also a fellow tenant at their 200 Jackson St. W. apartment building.

The relationship was volatile, according to Wednesday’s opening address (a copy was obtained by The Spectator). The address is not evidence, but rather a summary of what the Crown expects the jury will hear.

Mitton, a widow, and Bell spent time together in her apartment, socializing and drinking, said assistant Crown attorney Nancy Flynn in her address.

Mitton, 66, shared with her son Christopher the problems she had with Bell, including him stealing her medications, family photos, and money from her bank account.

Flynn said the jury would hear from Christopher that his mother was petrified of Bell because he “walked around with a knife strapped near his boot”.

He last spoke with his mother on July 26, 2016, after she called him while scared and distraught. The Crown’s address stated that Mitton told her son that Bell had pushed his way into her apartment, threatened her, and raised his hand to hit her. He left when a neighbour threatened to call the police, Mitton told him.

Christopher urged his mother to call the police but she refused. When Christopher called her four days later, he got no answer, court heard.

On July 31, fire broke out in Mitton’s apartment. Responding firefighters found her face down in water in the bathtub. They carried her out, but she had no vital signs. She had stab wounds to her chest.

Bell was arrested later that day. Police searching his pockets found Mitton’s birth certificate, health card and library card. His shorts had soot on them and later tested positive for blood that could be Mitton’s, the jury heard.

Police searched the apartment building garbage room and found 77 cheques from Mitton’s bank account in various states of completion and partially filled out to Bell for $5,000.

Evidence to be presented will show Mitton was dead before the fire, that she had been beaten, and that the fire was deliberately set, court heard.

Several witnesses testified on Wednesday, including Mitton’s son. The trial heard Thursday from two firefighters — one of whom discovered Mitton’s body in her unit’s bathtub despite the heavy black smoke engulfing the apartment.

The trial is scheduled for five weeks.