More details about the murder of James Satre heard in court

Garrecht testified that information was limited except, “the caller believed that the neighbor was dead and there was a lot of blood.”

Sgt Garrecht and her team arrived at the scene a few minutes later at 7:39 a.m.

The sergeant testified that she noticed Satre laying on the ground, wearing a jean jacket, blue jeans, and beige work gloves. A pool of blood was coming from his midsection.

She also said “ he was cold and stiff,” and had no pulse, something she had seen many times before as an officer of the police service.

“I could already confirm that he was dead,” Sgt. Garrecht said.

Sgt Garrecht also noticed a large hole in Satre’s chest and a set of fresh tire tracks were also found near Satre’s body.

Out of concern that someone could be inside James Satre’s home that was in need of help, Sgt. Garrecht testified officers entered his residence.

She told the court, the home was tidy with no signs of an altercation.

A cellphone and cash were found on the kitchen table. Marijuana plants were also discovered inside the home.

Sgt. Garrecht informed Satre’s sister of his death later that day.

Satre’s sister said she had last seen her brother the day before when he came to return a ladder.

An autopsy report, detailed in the agreed statement of facts confirmed James Satre died of a stab wound to the chest.

Time of death ranged between one hour to several days before the body was found, according to the report.

The statement of facts read aloud to the jury also detailed the extortion investigation, and how a number of letters were sent to a business.

The agreed statement of facts also noted that the accused Robert Hoefman lived in close proximity to the business where the letters were found.

Earlier in the day, another neighbor also took the stand.

The court heard from Adam Hunter, a tow truck driver who lived across the street and six houses down from Satre.

Three dash-cam videos taken from Hunter’s truck were played for the jury.

The videos showed Joeseph Dolan going for a walk and then later discovering the body of Satre outside his home. They also showed police arriving on scene.

While on the stand Hunter was questioned about the relationship between Joseph Dolan and James Satre

Hunter testified that he heard through hearsay that James wasn’t too fond of Dolan.

Dolan, believed to be one of the last people to see James Satre alive, also took the stand once again Friday,

During cross-examination, the defence attempted to discredit his reliability as a witness.

Dolan previously testified that he has been blind since 2000 and only sees darkness.

Surveillance captured Dolan jaywalking along Allowance Avenue close to rush hour while on his cellphone.

Dolan said that he crossed that road many times with his wife Darla, and he left that day to buy one gram of marijuana.

The trial against the accused Robert Hoefman is expected to last six weeks.

Testimony is expected to reveal more about the extensive undercover operation involving city police and the RCMP.

by Tiffany Goodwein

More details about the murder of James Satre heard in court

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