Witnesses describe Elfgard Oughtred’s behaviour in the months leading up to husband’s murder

The court heard about Elfgard Oughtred’s alleged gambling addiction and claims against her husband leading up to his death. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

Testimony continued Thursday at the second-degree murder trial of Elfgard Oughtred.

The Brant County woman is accused of killing her husband, Gordon.

The 82-year-old was found lying in a pool of blood inside the couple’s home on Salt Springs Church Road in November 2022. The death was eventually ruled a homicide and, two years later, Elfgard was charged with second-degree murder.

Day 4 of the trial

On Thursday, the Crown’s witnesses set the scene for Nov. 24, 2022.

Several of them described the movements of Elfgard’s orange Jeep on the morning of Gordon’s death.

The court heard from Joan Thack, Gordon’s first wife, who said she has known Elfgard for decades.

Thack said she saw Elfgard drive past her house around 9:15 a.m. and wondered at the time why she would be driving around in the thick fog.

An Ontario Provincial Police analyst also took the stand. Valerie Thorton presented photos and time stamps of Elfgard’s movements on Nov. 24. She said the Jeep was spotted around 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a casino in Brantford. Half an hour later, she was seen leaving.

Jurors heard earlier in the trial that Elfgard had a gambling addiction, and that it was a source of tension in her marriage to Gordon.

Thorton testified that in the six months leading up to Gordon’s death, nearly $9,000 was withdrawn in cash and credit card advances from Elfgard’s account. Her bank statements also showed purchases and withdrawals from Elements Casino in Brantford.

Donna Martin, whose husband was close friends with Gordon, also testified.

She said Elfgard called her about a month before the death and allegedly asked Martin to lie to Gordon, claiming she was having coffee at her home, even though Martin was out of town.

Martin also told the court Elfgard believed Gordon was following her.

Martin said she asked Elfgard why and if Gordon “has been mean.”

Elfgard allegedly replied: “No, he’s just been following me.”

Martin said she did not speak to Elfgard after that conversation.

What the jury has heard so far

Jurors have already heard from a number of witnesses in the first four days of the trial.

Elfgard’s daughter testified Wednesday about a conversation the two had at a prison in Milton three weeks after the 2024 arrest.

Rita Huellemann described her mother as “frail, aged [and] looked very stressed.”

Elfgard allegedly told her 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.”

She also claimed Elfgard was abusive when she was a child.

On Tuesday, a long-time neighbour testified that Elfgard came to his home on the morning of the murder and told him Gordon had fallen down.

James McLellan then went to the couple’s home where he found Gordon lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen. He described Gordon’s head as “distorted.” McLellan said Elfgard did not help him with CPR and sat in the sunroom, only leaving to throw up.

McLellan said he was not aware of any financial issues between the two.

A paramedic who responded to the 911 call also testified. Andrew Oliva described large wounds on the side of Gordon’s head, as well as cuts on his face and a black eye, along with “copious” amounts of blood at the scene. When questioned about Gordon’s health, Oliva told the court Elfgard denied Gordon had a history of alcoholism.

The Crown is expected to call more witnesses to the stand when the trial resumes next week.