Double murders trial begins in Winnipeg

A first degree murder trial beganTuesday for Kelly Clarke, accused of killing a St. Vital couple in 2008.

Clarke, 41, pleaded not guilty to the two counts of first-degree murder.

Joel Labossiere, 34, and his wife, Magdalena, 33,were foundin their home, shot "execution-style", on April 20 2008. A neighbour had heard the unattended cries of their one-year-old daughter and called police.

Crown attorney Gerry Bowering outlined the case against Clarke and will be calling a witness named Steven Solomon to testify.

Solomon said he was a friend and prison-mate of Clarke and that the two of them would meet up withDenis Jerome Labossierethe son and brother of three people murdered on their family farm in 2005.

Joel Labossiere's grandparents Fernand Labossiere, 78, and his wife, Rita and their son Remi, 44, were found dead in their home in St. Leon, Man., after a fire in 2005. It was later determined they had been shot.

The couples son,Denis Jerome Labossiere, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

A 22-year-old B.C. man and a 21-year-old man from Winnipeg werealso charged.

Crowns witness

Bowering said Solmon will testify that in 2008 Clarke told him of a plan to kidnap and torture someone involved with the 2005 murders.

The Crown said on April 20. 2008 the two men drove a stolen car to the home of Joel and Magdalena Labossiere.

The Crown said Solomon will testify that Clarke went into the home with a sawed-off shotgun and that he heard screams followed by two gunshots. Afterwards the two men would later dispose of evidence in various locations.