Edmonton man confined and attacked in his home, jury hears at first-degree murder trial

An Edmonton senior was confined and beaten before a fatal attack that left him with "catastrophic" injuries, a jury heard this week at the murder trial for the man accused in his death.

Donn Austin Gauthier is charged with first-degree murder, arson and interference with a dead body in the death of Ronald Bell. Court heard that the 70-year-old was found dead in the basement of his Central McDougall home on New Year's Day of 2023.

Gauthier has pleaded not guilty to all three of the charges he faces.

As the trial began Monday, Crown prosecutor Keith Nicholls told jurors they will hear evidence that a fire was deliberately set to try to conceal the crime, and Gauthier also later burned his clothing at a different location.

According to the Crown, Bell was the primary tenant of the home, living in the basement suite and subletting units on the main floor to others.

Court heard that police were called to the house on the afternoon of Jan. 1, 2023, after one of Bell's friends went to check on him because he hadn't been able to reach him. 

Edmonton Police Service Const. Barry Rembels testified that he was the first officer on the scene, where he found a body lying on the floor in the basement.

He told jurors that the home smelled like smoke, and he found burn marks and melted light fixtures, as well as a burst pipe leaking water into the basement.

Det. Jared Buhler gave evidence that he requested a warrant for Gauthier in mid-February 2023, and he was arrested in July, about six months after the police investigation began.

Police interview played in court

Over two days of the trial, the jury listened to Gauthier's post-arrest interview with EPS Sgt. Richard Windover.

In several hours of video footage played in court, Gauthier sometimes leans against the wall or slumps forward to rest his head on his folded arms.

Near the start of the interview, he says he has a drug and alcohol addiction, and he's sick and in pain. Windover asks him if he's in withdrawal, and he says yes.

In the video, Gauthier repeatedly tells the police officer that he doesn't want to talk to him, and makes numerous requests to return to his cell.

Windover told the jury that there was a break where Gauthier spoke to a lawyer on the phone and got medical attention for his symptoms.

On Thursday, the jury watched a portion of the interview where Buhler entered the room and began asking questions.

Gauthier told the police that he heard Bell get in an argument with two other people at the house, one of whom was a woman Gauthier knew. He said he saw her stab Bell.

Buhler told Gauthier, "There was more than just a knife" involved.

"They're telling us a lot of the same things that you have, but the actor is different. You're the one with the knife in your hand. You're the one with the other thing in your hand."

"I didn't have the knife. I had the axe," Gauthier responded.

Defence lawyer Andrew Phypers is expected to cross-examine Windover on Friday.

The trial is set to last up to three weeks.