'I was worried for my safety': Witness takes stand in Windsor murder trial
One of the two people shot at in a south Windsor murder in April of 2020 took the stand as a Crown witness in an ongoing trial Thursday.
According to testimony heard during the trial, Jacob Reaume was in the car when his girlfriend, Madisen Gingras, 20, was shot in the head and killed on April 1, 2020. Reaume was also shot in the arm but survived his injury.
Three men, Keermaro Rolle, Tameko Vilneus and Kyle Hanna are facing first degree murder and attempted murder charges for their alleged role in the incident.
Reaume spent the entire day Thursday on the witness stand as a Crown witness, detailing his involvement with the accused parties.
Reaume testified that in 2020 he was working as a drug dealer and met one of the accused, Tameko Vilneus, through a mutual friend.
“She wanted me to meet a few of her friends that could potentially be business partners, selling drugs,” Reaume told court.
Reaume said he eventually met Vilneus and Rolle in early February, and they went into business together, with Reaume agreeing to sell fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana.
The Crown walked the jury through a series of text messages between Vilneus and Reaume, detailing their communications and meetings to exchange money for more drugs over a series of in-person interactions at local motels.
Reaume told the court that Madisen Gingras attended one of those in-person meetings at a local motel to meet the business partners.
From the first time they exchanged money for drugs, Reaume said had a balance owing with Vilneus, one that would persist throughout the business relationship.
About a month after Reaume started doing business with Tameko Vilneus, who he refers to as “Meeks,” Reaume said he was the victim of a home invasion.
Reaume told court on March 8, two masked individuals entered his house while he was home. After some pounding on his door, Reaume scrambled and took about $10,000 cash and $20,000 to $30,000 worth of drugs from his safe and left the house through his bedroom window. Gingras was home at the time but was unharmed.
Reaume said the masked individuals took two safes from his home containing laptops, tablets and other stuff, and at that point, he knew he had to call his suppliers.
Reaume testified that after he alerted Vilneus of the robbery, Vilneus and Rolle came to visit a few days later. Along with Gingras, they went looking for the possible perpetrators without any success.
Before leaving, Reaume testified Vilneus offered him a green 9mm handgun.
“They were going to leave it behind for protection so if something like that ever happened again that I would have protection,” Reaume told court. “But I told them that I didn’t want it. I didn’t plan on continuing to sell drugs after that knowing that I owed them all that money.”
Weeks would go by before their next interaction in late March.
Reaume recalled feeling quite nervous about this as he still owed money that he didn’t have.
“If somebody were to lose $30,000, they’d be really upset, pissed off. Who knows what could happen,” he said. ”I was worried for my safety, Madisen’s safety.”
There is a 14-member jury hearing the case, one that could last up to three months with more than 70 witnesses in the queue.
The trial is scheduled to resume Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas
A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada.
Lotto Max jackpot hits $80M for second time ever
The Lotto Max jackpot has climbed to $80 million for just the second time in Canadian lottery history.
Canada 'already past due' on NATO defence spending target: U.S. House intelligence committee chair Mike Turner
The chair of the United States House intelligence committee says Canada needs to accelerate its defence spending targets, especially with its military in 'desperate' need of investment.
Police thought this gnome looked out of place. Then they tested it for drugs
During a recent narcotics investigation, Dutch police said they found a garden gnome made of approximately two kilograms of MDMA.
Max Verstappen wins fourth straight World Championship as George Russell takes victory in Las Vegas
Max Verstappen claimed the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship at Las Vegas Grand Prix that saw George Russell take victory for Mercedes.
Nova Scotia Tories appear safe with close battle for second between Liberals and NDP
With two days left before Nova Scotians elect their next government, polls suggest Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston's decision to call an early vote will pay off and the real battle will be between the Liberals and NDP for second place.
Anti-NATO protest in Montreal continues as politicians denounce Friday's violence
Federal cabinet ministers condemned an anti-NATO protest in Montreal that turned violent on Friday, saying "hatred and antisemitism" were on display, but protesters deny the claim, saying they demonstrated against the "complicity" of NATO member countries in a war that has killed thousands of Palestinians.
Four convicted in Spain over homophobic murder that sparked nationwide protests
Four men were convicted on Sunday in connection with the homophobic murder of a 24-year-old nursing assistant that sparked nationwide protests.
School bullies have moved online. But is banning all under-16s from social media really the answer?
The Australian government introduced what it's called 'world-leading' legislation in parliament this week to wipe social media accounts – including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and X – from the devices of children under 16.