YELLOWKNIFE - Emrah Bulatci shot RCMP Const. Chris Worden because he was banned from owning a firearm and didn't want to go to jail for six years, his friend testified Monday.
Jared Nagle, 23, admitted on the stand that he sold crack cocaine with Bulatci in Hay River, N.W.T., and was in a cab outside a home where Worden answered a call on Oct. 6, 2007. After hearing gunshots, Nagle said he and another acquaintance fled to Edmonton.
Bulatci, 25, of St. Albert, Alta., is charged with first-degree murder in Worden's death.
Court has already heard that when Bulatci came out of the known crack house, Worden asked him to put his hands on the trunk of the cruiser, but Bulatci fled.
Nagle testified that Bulatci told him he ran behind an apartment building and was out of breath. Bulatci told him he reached into his pocket for his gun, cocked it and fired twice at the officer.
Bulatci told him the officer lunged at him, and while both were on the ground, he reached around Worden's neck and shot him in the head.
The 30-year-old officer was found dead several hours later with his gun still in its holster. He is survived by a wife and young daughter.
Nagle told the jury that Bulatci said he shot Worden because he was banned from carrying weapons and if found with a gun, he would automatically receive six years in jail.
Six days after Worden was killed, police raided Nagle's residence in Edmonton and arrested Bulatci.
Nagle said when he came out of his house, police asked him if anyone else was inside. He said he didn't know, but police pressed, saying they didn't want to hurt anyone.
Nagle testified he told them the person they were looking for was inside.
Nagle, who is charged with accessory after the fact, will be back on the stand Tuesday to face cross examination from Bulatci's lawyer.
Earlier Monday, Derek Turgeon testified he sold a gun to Bulatci for money or drugs in a hotel parking lot in Peace River, Alta., about a month before Worden died.
Turgeon says shortly after Worden was killed in October 2007, he got a phone call from the accused who said he was in trouble and needed to borrow money.
He told court Bulatci also asked him to contact his lawyer in Edmonton but wouldn't explain why, telling Turgeon only to "watch TV -- you'll see stuff that happened."
The 25-year-old witness says he then phoned the lawyer but learned that police were connecting his name with the accused.
He says at that point he got back to Bulatci and told him never to call him again.
