Naistus Murder Trial Hears From Victim’s Sister

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 15:28

 

 

The Battleford trial of a Beaverlodge, Alberta man accused of killing a 20-year-old woman from Onion Lake heard tearful testimony from the sister of Jarita Naistus today.

 

Elaine Dillon talked at length about the last time she saw her sister alive.

 

Dillon spoke of a shopping trip and a night out at the club with her sister the night before Naistus’ lifeless body was found by hotel staff in a Lloydminster hotel room in October 2005.

 

Dillon testified Naistus gave her money after the bar closed, and said she would meet her back at the Onion Lake First Nation in an hour.

 

The accused, Gordon Dwight Hurley, sat emotionless as Dillon struggled to speak about the last time she saw and spoke with Naistus.

 

The Crown also called Adolf Von Beila to the stand.

 

Von Beila was the hotel staff member that found the deceased Naistus in her hotel room.

 

He noted that he has found a total of three bodies in hotel rooms in Lloydminster over the years.

 

Court has heard that Naistus died as a result of asphyxiation, and that blunt force trauma to the head was also a contributing factor to her death.

 

Officers from the Saskatoon RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit have testified that Naistus’ assailant used a belt, towel and a wire coat hanger to strangle her.

 

She was attending college at the time of her death.

 

Hurley is on trial for second-degree murder.

 

The proceedings have been adjourned until Monday.