Laura Babcock murder trial: Jury sees animal incinerator Crown alleges was used to burn body - Action News
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Laura Babcock murder trial: Jury sees animal incinerator Crown alleges was used to burn body

For the first time at the Laura Babcock murder trial, the jury sees the huge animal incinerator that the Crown alleges was used to burn the Toronto woman's body.

Warning: This story contains graphic subject matter

This photo of Mark Smich standing in front of an animal incinerator on a trailer was shown in court today at the Laura Babcock murder trial. (Court exhibit)

For the first time at the Laura Babcockmurder trial on Thursday, the jurysawthe huge animal incinerator that the Crown alleges was used to burn the Toronto woman'sbody.

Court saw photos of accused killer Mark Smich standing in front of the imposing black machine smiling from ear to ear and a screen capture found on co-accused Dellen Millard's computer, from a website asking, "What temperature is cremation done at?"

The Crown allegesBabcock, 23,was burned in the incinerator,dubbed "The Eliminator" by the manufacturer, after she was killed by the pair in July 2012.

All of Thursday's testimony came from retired OPP officer Jim Falconer, who wasback in the witness box for a third dayto provide more evidence about messages, photos and videos found on electronic devices seized from homes of the two accused Millard, 32, of Toronto, and Smich, 30, of Oakville, Ont.

Both men have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. They are being tried in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto.

Through Falconer's threedays of testimony, a timeline of alleged events surrounding Babcock's disappearance has begun to emerge. The Crown has yet to provide a narrative linking these events, and has instead presented them to the jury factually, through Falconer's presentation.

Photos of an animal incinerator, which the manufacturer has dubbed The Eliminator, were shown in court today. (Court exhibit)

Building a timeline

Court has heard that the last outgoing phone call from Babcock's phone came on July 3, 2012, at 7:13 p.m. ET.

Then at 7:30 p.m., Millard texted Smich, saying,"I'm on a mission, back in 1 hr."

Court has also heardthat Babcock's phone stopped connecting with cellphone towers at 11 a.m. on July 4.

Falconer's presentation includeda photo shot at 2:40 p.m that day that was recoveredfrom one of Millard's computers. It showed ablue tarp, rolled up, with a dog sitting next to it. The Crown has not explained the significance of the photo.

Court heard Thursday that this photo was recovered from a phone backup found on a computer seized from Dellen Millard's home. (Court exhibit)

Falconer's presentation also highlighted multiple messages between Millard, and a contact only referred to as "Shaner," about trying to build a homemade incinerator, and then purchasing one.

In messages, Millard referred to the "BBQtrailer" as a high priority. Thetwo also discussed propane hookups for the device.

"Bbq has run its warm up, it's ready for meat," Millard textedSmich on the afternoon of July 23.

The screen grab found on Millard's computer, about the necessary temperature for cremation, was made at 10:38 p.m.

The jury also saw a photo of an object engulfed in flames from inside the Eliminator, which was taken onJuly 23, 2012 at 11:20 p.m.

The Crown has not said what was burning inside.

Millard, left, and Smich, right, are accused of first-degree murder. Both have pleaded not guilty. (Facebook, Instagram)

Rap video played

The jury also saw video pulledfrom devices found at Millard's home. One was shoton July 23 at 11:45 p.m., at an airplane hangar owned by Millard. It shows flaming embersfloating in the air, with the sound of a low rumble in the background.

The Crown then showed a text file, found on an iPad called "Mark's iPad,"which was createdless than an hour after the video was shot. It read:

The bitch started off all skin and bone,

Now the bitch lay on some ashy stone,

Last time I saw her's was outside the home,

And if u go swimming u can find her phone.

A video of Smichrapping that verse was then shown on video screens in the courtroom.

Judge cautions Millard

Millard, who is representing himself in court, cross-examined Falconer during the court's afternoon session, asking a series of questions about manipulating and doctoring images in Photoshop. Repeatedly, Falconer told Millard he wasn't really able to answer many of his questions.

Justice Michael Code cautioned Millard, at one point.

"You're asking him inferences about content, Mr. Millard," Code said. "He's simply a searching officerit's for the jury to draw inferences."

The Crown alleges Babcock's body was burned in an animal incinerator after she was killed by the two accused in July 2012. (Babcock family)

Millard also attempted to introduce other text messages for "context," but in many cases, the judge did not allow him to ask Falconerabout them.

"I'm just trying to fill out the record," Millard said.

The trial continues Friday for its 14th day, when Mark Smich's lawyer Thomas Dungey will cross-examine Falconer.

Read a recap of today'slive blog for more in-depth coverage.On mobile?View the live bloghere.