Crown wraps up case
Watson told Fredette homicide investigator that there was blood in his house because he’s ‘always bleeding’
Andrew Watson seemed to care more about himself than the woman he professed to love during a lengthy interview with police 10 days after Lise Fredette went missing in 2014.
Jurors – in Watson’s first-degree murder and criminal harassment trial in connection to Fredette – watched video footage Tuesday of Watson’s interrogation.
OPP Staff Sgt. Scott Johnson questioned Watson on Nov. 22, 2014.
Johnson is the OPP’s manager of criminal behaviour analysis. He spoke with Watson for about four hours at the city police station the day he was arrested.
The staff sergeant took the stand Tuesday while the six-man, sixwoman jury watched the video.
The Crown alleges Watson killed Fredette after months of stalking her, though her body has never been found.
After settling into the interview room, Watson asked for a list of all the items seized by police from his house and car.
“I want to know exactly what they took from my home and what they took from my car,” Watson said.
The Payne Street resident then talked about the state of his house after the police searches. “You should see the mess in my house,” Watson said.
Watson, 78, and Fredette, 74, dated off and on for three years, ending the relationship for good in April 2014.
“I did everything to make her happy,” Watson said. “I loved her very, very much.”
Watson asked multiple times what would be happening to him next and if he could get a pillow and blanket for his cell. He also asked to be released and he’d just “sit and wait” at home.
“You could let me stay at home where at least I’d be comfortable,” Watson said.
The accused spoke with a lawyer before the interview with Johnson. Watson said he was told not to say anything.
But the Scotland native spoke freely about anything not related to Fredette.
He told Johnson he moved to Peterborough 19 years ago when he was transferred to the city while working the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as a clerk.
Watson went on to say he’s in good overall health, with exception to diabetes and the aspirin he takes once a day after having a stroke in 2000. The aspirin thins his blood, he said, which makes him bleed a lot if he gets a cut.
Watson told Johnson he hadn’t seen Fredette since the Saturday before she went missing. They were both at a dance at Mapleridge Recreation Centre.
But Watson didn’t speak to her, he said, not after receiving a second warning from police a few days earlier, telling him to leave Fredette alone.
Johnson asked Watson what he thought happened to Fredette. “I don’t know,” he said. Watson said police “zeroed” in on him right away after her disappearance. Johnson explained that the evidence police had led them down that path.
Johnson asked Watson, for the sake of Fredette’s loved ones, to tell them where her body is.
“I’ll tell you, no one is missing her more than I’m missing her,” he said, adding he’s completely alone, without any family.
Watson went on to say how there’s nothing going on in his life and he spends 95 per cent of his time in his house alone.
“So no matter what crime would be committed in Peterborough, I could not give the police an alibi,” he said.
Johnson asked Watson where he was the night Fredette went missing.
“I’m not supposed to be speaking to you,” he answered.
Johnson showed Watson photos taken of Fredette’s driveway, revealing pools of blood found the day after she went missing. He told Watson that police knew a struggle took place there.
“It looks like you’re definitely going to have this wrapped up pretty soon,” Watson said, referring to the investigation.
Watson then asked about going home again, where he’d be more comfortable.
Johnson questioned Watson about the blood that was found in his house and his Subaru.
“Well, there’ll be blood all over my house ... because I’m always bleeding,” Watson said.
A Payne Street neighbour testified she saw Watson drive off in his Subaru SUV on the evening Fredette was last seen.
Watson told police he was at home. Johnson pointed out the discrepancy.
“Oh, there you are. You’ve got it made,” Watson said.
Johnson asked Watson again about the whereabouts of Fredette’s body. He said police knew Watson was involved in her murder and that maybe he was conflicted about telling the truth.
“I’m not conflicted at all ... the only think that’s bothering me is these conditions that I’m under,” Watson said, referring to jail.