CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Hoefman murdrer and extortion trial

Forensics officer testifies about evidence chain of custody

Mar 11, 2021 | 12:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat police officer who photographed and collected evidence from the crime scene testified at the murder and extortion trial of Robert Hoefman on Thursday morning.

Const. Jeff Unrau was in the Forensic Identification Unit in October 2017 when the body of James Satre was found outside his home at 1077 Mill Street in the South Flats.

The morning’s testimony was largely concerned with chain of custody matters for evidence in the trial, including a pair of glasses found next to the body of James Satre.

Earlier this week the family of Robert Hoefman testified that he had lost his glasses.

Unrau detailed all the evidence he collected at the scene and how the items were transported and stored in the forensic lab at the city police station.

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He also testified about clothes and DNA collected during the autopsy in Calgary and the chain of custody involved.

As well, Unrau took the court through the process he used at the scene, beginning with overall photographs and working in towards the body.

Prosecutors believe Satre was killed to further a separate extortion plot, the target of which can’t be identified.

Testimony continues this afternoon.