Friend of accused is emotional as he recalls meeting him at hotel

CTV London: Disturbing testimony A friend of the accused is emotional on the stand at what is being called the Hotel Murder Trial. Nick Paparella reports.

There was emotional testimony Wednesday in what is being called the Hotel Murder Trial.

James McCullough is accused of killing and dismembering Alex Fraser. Both men were from Orangeville and Fraser died in a London hotel.

McCullough has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and offering an indignity to a human body.

Lucas Verscheure, 22, testified that he was called to the Travelodge hotel room on Sept. 8, 2013 by McCullough.

Verscheure and the accused had gone to Fanshawe College together and McCullough called him out of the blue for help.

When Verscheure arrived, he said McCullough seemed out of sorts and had a bizarre story.

“He told me him and this 26-year-old (gang member) from Toronto did a robbery and got his mask ripped off. And the (gang member) did all the stabbing. He (McCullough) only stabbed him once," Verscheure said.

The jury heard the body parts of 20-year-old Fraser were hidden in the hotel room inside bags.

Verscheure told the court that things became weird.

“McCullough said there were stolen government property in the bags."  He said the accused told him a hand and a foot were in the hotel and that other parts were in Orangeville.

The witness said McCullough offered money to drive him to North Bay or Peterborough. “He wanted to get rid of the evidence and dump it around the province.”

Verscheure told the jury he got out of the hotel as soon as he could that night.

"I was so freaked out; I didn't know what to think. I wish if I could go back in time I would."