Despres co-operative during arrest, court told

Gregory Despres was very co-operative with police after he was arrested in Massachusetts, the Court of Queen's Bench in Fredericton heard on Tuesday.

Despres, 25, is on trial for two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his elderly neighbours. He has pleaded not guilty.

Fred Fulton, 74, and Verna Decarie, 70, were found dead in their Minto, N.B., home on April 26, 2005. Both had been stabbed repeatedly and Fulton was decapitated.

Officer Andrew Murray was delivering information packets to local residents to be on the lookout for Despres when he spotted him walking along Highway 6 near the Mattapoisett, Mass., police station at approximately 11:30 p.m. on April 26, 2005.

Murray testified he stopped the cruiser to ask his name and after Despres identified himself he asked where he was going.

Despres said he was going to the local marina to try to find work, Murray said.

A naturalized American citizen, Despres had worked three summers at the marina in Acushnet, Mass., a small community south of Boston.

Murray called for backup and made the arrest with two other officers while five others from neighbouring detachment of Fairhaven stood by.

Despres was very polite and compliant during the booking process, Murray said.

He responded to each question military-style with "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir," Murray testified.

Despres told the officers he was also wanted in Russia for homicide and said they should call 1-800-MARINES and his lieutenant would "straighten out" the situation.

The court heard earlier in the trial that when Despres crossed the Canada-United States border he told officials he was a sniper trained by the U.S. marines.

Murray said he did call the phone number but got a voice recording. Despres then said Murray needed to call six times before the lieutenant would pick up, he testified.

Despres's clothes were seized after the arrest at the request of the RCMP.

The police also seized a backpack Despres was carrying, which contained boots, a poncho, a motorcycle helmet and a picture of himself holding a gun.

This is Despres's second trial. It is being heard by judge alone.

His first trial was halted in February after he exhibited bizarre behaviour in the courtroom. After a psychiatric assessment, he was declared unfit to stand trial in April and ordered to undergo treatment for paranoid schizophrenia.

In July, a provincial review board ruled Despres had responded well to psychiatric treatment, understood the court proceedings and the charges against him, and was fit to stand trial again.