Accused in 3-man murder trial says he is a 'scapegoat,' denies role in Reno Lee's death

One of the men accused of killing Reno Lee denies he instructed one of his co-accused to shoot the Regina man.

Bronson Gordon is charged with first-degree murder and committing anindignity to a body in connection with Lee's April 2015 death, along with Daniel Theodore and AndrewBellegarde. Lee was killed by two gunshots to the head.His body was then dismembered and buried in a shallow grave on the Star Blanket First Nation.

The lawyers for Gordon's co-accused and the Crown questioned him Thursday. He has denied involvement in Lee's death and said he didn't provide instructions to others in regards to Lee.

• Bronson Gordon testifiesat his own trial for 1st-degree murder in death of Reno Lee

"I'm a scapegoat in this," Gordon said when Theodore's defence lawyer, GeorgeCombe, asked if he's the victim in this case.

"The fact is that you were the guy that was running this show, bossing everybody else around," Combe said.

Gordon denied that and said if he had set this up,it wouldn't have happened in his own home.

Combesaid that Gordon had beenaccused of instructing Bellegarde to shoot Lee. Gordon said that was a lie, adding that he didn't really know Bellegarde.

Not a boss, just acting like one

Gordon testified on Wednesday that he had been introduced to Lee by another of the trial'switnesses so that Gordon and Lee could go into the drug dealing business together.

Although Gordon denied he was a gang member at the time of Lee's death, he said he was selling drugs for a gang and posing as a boss within the gang at the same time.

Gordon said he "exaggerated" his role within the operation because people had previously taken advantage of him and that led to debt. At the time, he also managed a groupof drug runners, he said.

Gordon said on the night Lee would later be killed, Bellegarde ended up at his apartment, although he isn't sure how.Gordonsaid he had hoped to make a good impression with Lee and was looking forward to smoking some meth.

Lee also had drug debt of more than$40,000 one that Gordon was aware of, court heard.Gordon testified that Lee said he was able to pay the debt and doesn't know why Lee was attacked.

"I don't understand why he got shot," he said. "I don't know the people he had a debt to."

Gordon also said he doesn't rob drug dealers and even if he knew someone had a debt, he wouldn't offer himself up as the person to deal with it.

He downplayed his drug-dealing abilities and said he wasn't able to "collect."

Contradicts earlier testimony

Previous witness testimony indicated Lee was attacked at Gordon's apartment and then transported to a home on the 1100 block of Garnet Street, where he was confined against his will.

Another witness who testified earlier in proceedings, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, was there that night and was dope sick. That witness was told to go to a room where Lee was allegedly attacked later on that night.

Theodore's lawyerquestionedGordonabout a statement he made to the Regina Police Service that the dope sick man had a shotgun while he was in the bedroom.

Gordon said he only told the police what he thought they wanted to hear.

Gordon's testimony contradicts earlier witness testimony in which the dope sick man said he was given a shotgun and told to work off a drug debt by Gordon.

Gordon made several statements throughoutthe day that contradicted what he told police after he was arrested.

He testified that he didn't recall certain statements or that he lied to pass along blame, or because he thought he was saying what the police wanted to hear.

The Crown's cross-examination began late in the day Thursday.

Just before the day came to a close, court saw a video of Gordon apparently crying and telling a police officer, "What happened to Reno was what was supposed to happen to me."

Earlier in the trial, Gordon testified about an incident in which his life was threatened because of his own drug debt.

The Crown's cross-examination continues Friday.