Witness says he saw no signs of struggle inside murdered man’s home

First responders described what they walked into after the 2022 death of Brant County man. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers.

Jurors at the second-degree murder trial of Elfgard Oughtred heard testimony on Tuesday from a neighbour who said he saw her husband lying dead in the couple’s Brant County farmhouse.

James McLellan, a volunteer firefighter, lived next door to the property on Salt Springs Church Road. He told the court he had known Gordon Oughtred for more than 50 years and described the 82-year-old as a “grumpy old man.”

Court heard that, on Nov. 24, 2022, Elfgard went to McLellan’s home and told him her husband had fallen. He also testified that Elfgard looked genuinely upset.

When McLellan walked into the home, he saw Gordon lying face down in a pool of blood in the kitchen.

He then rolled Gordon over and noticed the elderly man had a black eye and “distorted” face.

McLellan said a call was made to 911 and he began CPR, but Elfgard did not help.

He testified that she sat in her sunroom and only left to go throw up.

McLellan also said he didn’t see any signs of a struggle in the kitchen.

He told the court Gordon never mentioned any financial issues in his marriage with Elfgard.

Paramedic describes “copious amount of blood” at home

Late Tuesday morning, the Crown called on Andrew Oliva, a paramedic who was one of the first to arrive at the scene.

Oliva told the court he was dispatched to the Oughtreds’ farmhouse around 12:40 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2022, for a call about an elderly man found in a pool of blood.

“There was a copious amount of blood around the patient’s head and torso,” Oliva testified.

Oliva said he noticed Gordon had large wounds on either side of his head, cuts across his face and a black eye.

The paramedic said he asked Elfgard whether Gordon was a heavy drinker or if he had a pre-existing medical condition known as esophageal varices, which can produce a large volume of blood. When Elfgard denied Gordon having any history of alcoholism, Oliva said he then looked inside Gordon’s mouth to determine whether his wounds were self-inflicted. However, he said he did not find anything that would lead him to believe Gordon tried to kill himself.

Gordon was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of his death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

The Crown also called on Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Brian Workman.

He told the court he received a call about a possible gunshot wound at the home since Gordon had a firearm licence.

While at the scene, Workman said he spoke with Elfgard and tried to calm her down, saying, “I believe she was upset.”

During cross-examination, Workman told the court he could not conclude how Gordon sustained his injuries.

What the jury has heard so far

Elgard Oughtred’s trial began on Monday. She is now 81 years old and uses a walker.

In its opening statement, the Crown said Gordon died from blunt force trauma and was found with multiple lacerations on his head and cuts on his hands.

They claimed Elfgard had a gambling addiction and it caused conflict between the couple.

Jurors were also told that Elfgard admitted to killing Gordon in a conversation with her daughter while she was in police custody.

The Crown has not yet called witnesses to support these allegations.

Elfgard was arrested and charged almost two years after her husband’s death.