Post by Sher on Jun 15, 2005 15:33:15 GMT -5
BRANDON, Man. -- Almost two years after 18-year-old Erin Chorney vanished, the former boyfriend accused of killing her was tricked into confessing by undercover cops posing as criminals, jurors heard yesterday.
In his opening statement, Crown prosecutor Bob Morrison said an elaborate four-month sting drew three different confessions from Michael Bradley Bridges. Each was more detailed in the hope he might finally be accepted by "the Boss" as a full-fledged member of the fake gang.
In his final confession, Feb. 12, 2004, Bridges told police he attempted to strangle and then drowned Chorney in his house. He allegedly left her in the bathtub for almost an entire day before burying her in someone else's fresh grave in a Brandon, Man., cemetery.
"She was found exactly how Bridges said he left her," said Morrison.
Bridges, 24, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Morrison said undercover officers convinced Bridges the only way to move up the ladder in the gang - and earn more money - would be to come clean about all past crimes and ask "the Boss" to help make the problems go away.
"From the beginning of the operation to the very end, a number of things were constantly stressed to Mr. Bridges - loyalty and principles of honesty and trust," Morrison told the jurors.
Chorney's disappearance on April 21, 2002, was the subject of a nationwide missing person's search and "remained a compelling mystery for a long time," said Morrison.
Morrison said Bridges and Chorney had already split up the night she disappeared. Bridges had been charged a few weeks earlier with assaulting her.
The lawyer said Bridges' final taped confession, which jurors will see later in the trial, reveals he was mad at Chorney because he feared a conviction for the assault would hurt his job prospects and prevent him from travelling to the United States.
The pair allegedly fought and Bridges choked her with his arm from behind.
He told police she was still alive but might be brain dead, so he cut the cord from a hair dryer and used it to pull her up off the ground.
When he realized Chorney was still breathing, he filled the tub and held her under, said Morrison.
The trial is expected to last until the end of the month.
In his opening statement, Crown prosecutor Bob Morrison said an elaborate four-month sting drew three different confessions from Michael Bradley Bridges. Each was more detailed in the hope he might finally be accepted by "the Boss" as a full-fledged member of the fake gang.
In his final confession, Feb. 12, 2004, Bridges told police he attempted to strangle and then drowned Chorney in his house. He allegedly left her in the bathtub for almost an entire day before burying her in someone else's fresh grave in a Brandon, Man., cemetery.
"She was found exactly how Bridges said he left her," said Morrison.
Bridges, 24, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Morrison said undercover officers convinced Bridges the only way to move up the ladder in the gang - and earn more money - would be to come clean about all past crimes and ask "the Boss" to help make the problems go away.
"From the beginning of the operation to the very end, a number of things were constantly stressed to Mr. Bridges - loyalty and principles of honesty and trust," Morrison told the jurors.
Chorney's disappearance on April 21, 2002, was the subject of a nationwide missing person's search and "remained a compelling mystery for a long time," said Morrison.
Morrison said Bridges and Chorney had already split up the night she disappeared. Bridges had been charged a few weeks earlier with assaulting her.
The lawyer said Bridges' final taped confession, which jurors will see later in the trial, reveals he was mad at Chorney because he feared a conviction for the assault would hurt his job prospects and prevent him from travelling to the United States.
The pair allegedly fought and Bridges choked her with his arm from behind.
He told police she was still alive but might be brain dead, so he cut the cord from a hair dryer and used it to pull her up off the ground.
When he realized Chorney was still breathing, he filled the tub and held her under, said Morrison.
The trial is expected to last until the end of the month.