Accused denies gunpoint kidnapping

Daniel Rego told court it was a ‘selfish mistake’ to have loaded handgun in his vehicle

Daniel Rego is currently on trial on charges of kidnapping with a firearm, armed robbery and threatening death or bodily harm

Testifying in his own defence on Tuesday, Daniel Rego denied pointing a gun at and robbing a Peterborough sex worker in 2021.

Rego, 28, told the court his purpose for picking up the sex worker on Bethune Street was to score hard drugs.

Rego is currently on trial in front of Justice Catriona Verner in the Superior Court of Justice in Peterborough on charges of kidnapping with a firearm, armed robbery and threaten death or bodily harm.

Crown attorney Paul Murray’s case included evidence from two witnesses, including the alleged victim and her son.

The sex worker, who’s not being named to protect her identity, testified she was homeless and living in a tent near the Peterborough Public Library during the time in question.

Days prior to the alleged kidnapping, the woman said Rego picked her up for sexual services on Bethune Street. The woman told the court Rego was unhappy with her services and returned to Bethune Street on Oct. 30, 2021, with a gun.

“He was pointing it (the gun) straight at me,” she testified.

The woman said she feared for her and her son’s life, so she got in Rego’s vehicle.

Her son, who’s not being named to protect his identity, testified he witnessed the encounter and said Rego also pointed the gun at him.

He told the court he was worried about his mother being in the vehicle with a man who had a gun, so he went back to the tent and told the

woman’s then-boyfriend what had allegedly happened.

The ex-boyfriend called the Peterborough Police Service with the information and police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle around 3:30 a.m. Rego and the sex worker were removed from the vehicle and police seized a loaded 9mm black handgun from under the driver’s seat, court heard.

Based on the information obtained through the investigation, police received a warrant for Rego’s mother’s home where police found eight more firearms, including two handguns, four rifles and two shotguns, court heard.

Before his trial began on Monday, Rego pleaded guilty to unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon (CEW), two counts of careless storage of a restricted firearm and careless storage of ammunition.

Rego told the court it was a “selfish mistake,” to have a loaded handgun in his vehicle, but he denied pointing it at the sex worker. Rego told the court he never wanted or obtained sexual services from the woman during either meeting.

During cross-examination, Murray questioned why Rego had a loaded gun on him. Rego’s evidence was that he was target shooting on Crown land in Bancroft before he met the woman, court heard.

Murray noted this wasn’t likely because it was dark when Rego claimed he was targeting shooting. After his target shooting evidence was picked apart, Rego said he carried firearms in his vehicle to look cool and tough. Murray suggested Rego brought the handgun on Oct. 30, 2021, because the woman had disrespected him by providing bad sexual services and Rego wanted to show he was tougher than her by brandishing the handgun.

On Wednesday, counsel gave closing arguments in the case. Defence lawyer Trevor Burgis suggested the court should put heavy weight on the fact that the alleged victim has a significant criminal record including offences of being dishonest to police.

“She is prepared to lie to police. She is lying yet again,” he explained.

Further, Burgis pointed to many inconsistencies in the complainant’s testimony and said her and her son’s version of events are different. “She is pretty streetwise,” he explained.

Justice Verner returns May 16 with her verdict.