Daughter claims Elfgard Oughtred admitted to hitting her husband with a hammer during prison conversation

As Elfgard Oughtred’s murder trial continues, the court learns what she told her daughter while she was in custody. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

Jurors at the second-degree murder trial of Elfgard Oughtred were told the elderly woman admitted to hitting her husband in a conversation with her daughter.

Rita Huellemann took the stand Wednesday. She testified about a conversation she had with her mother at a women’s prison in Milton three weeks after the now 81-year-old was charged with second-degree murder.

On Nov. 24, 2022, Gordon Oughtred was found lying in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor of the couple’s home on Salt Springs Church Road in Brant County. The 82-year-old’s death was later determined to be a homicide. Elfgard was arrested two years later.

On Wednesday, Huellemann testified against her mother.

Huellemann appeared in court via Zoom. During her testimony, Elfgard Oughtred stared blankly at the screen in front of her.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the 61-year-old visited Elfgard on July 31, 2024.

Huellemann said she asked her mother how she was doing.

“She was very emotionaly,” Huellemann recalled. “Frail, aged, looked very stressed.”

Elfgard allegedly told her daughter she was “tired of Gordon’s drinking” and also that “he hit her.”

“She was fed up,” Huellemann recalled her mother saying. “She went to the garage and got a hammer… and came and hit him.”

On cross examination, Huellemann was questioned about her mother’s demeanor. She described Elfgard as a quiet, but angry, person. Huellemann was asked if she knew her mother to be an abusive person. After a long, tense pause, she answered, “When we were kids, she was abusive.”

Justice Aubrey Hilliard addressed the jury after Huellemann’s testimony.

“You must not conclude that Mrs. Oughtred is a bad person, or is guilty of the offence charged, just because someone has said that Mrs. Oughtred has done similar things in the past.

The trial continues on Thursday and is expected to last three weeks.

What the jury has heard so far

Elfgard Oughtred’s trial began on Monday.

The Crown stated Gordon died from blunt force trauma. They also claimed Elfgard had a gambling addiction, an issue which caused conflict in the marriage.

On Tuesday, the couple’s long-time neighbour testified that Elfgard came to his home and claimed Gordon had fallen down. James McLellan said he saw the victim lying face down on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood. He described Gordon’s head as “distorted.” McLellan also told the court Elfgard did not help him with CPR. Instead, he said, she sat in the sunroom and only left to throw up.

McLellan called Gordon a “grumpy old man” and denied any knowledge of financial issues between the couple.

One of the paramedics who responded to the 911 call also testified on Tuesday. Andrew Oliva said Gordon had large wounds on either side of his head, cuts on his face and a black eye. He also described the “copious” amount of blood at the scene. Oliva said he questioned Elfgard about Gordon’s health, including any preexisting conditions which may have contributed to the excessive blood loss. Elfgard, he told the court, said Gordon did not have a history of alcoholism.

The Crown also called Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Brian Workman to the stand. He testified that he tried to calm Elfgard down because she seemed upset. During cross examination, Workman admitted he could not determine how Gordon got hurt.