SASKATOON – The first-degree murder trial for Greg Fertuck, who allegedly killed his wife, Sheree Fertuck, resumes Tuesday in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench.
The trial has been dragging out for three years. It started in September 2021 but has been delayed numerous times. It was originally supposed to start in March 2021.
Fertuck allegedly shot his estranged 51-year-old wife in a Kenaston gravel pit Dec. 7, 2015, court heard previously.
Sheree Fertuck was last seen leaving her family’s farmyard east of Kenaston to haul rock to a nearby gravel pit. RCMP searched the area but her body has never been found.
In April 2016 police determined that Sheree Fertuck was the victim of a homicide. Her husband was arrested June 24, 2016, near Saskatoon.
The non-jury trial has faced numerous delays. Its March 2021 start date was adjourned due to COVID-19. Other reasons for delays included the discovery of a firearm in early 2022, which is the alleged murder weapon, and his lawyers withdrawing from his case in late 2022.
Fertuck has been on remand since his arrest.
The trial includes evidence of the undercover police operation called “Mr. Big," which the judge has ruled as admissible. The Crown has rested their case and the defence's case is now being presented. Fertuck represents himself.
Mr. Big stings
Mr. Big stings are covert operations used by the RCMP where undercover police pose as fictitious criminal organizations to gain a confession.
Before the RCMP launch a Mr. Big sting, they place the suspect under surveillance for weeks to learn about his habits and personality. They then come up with an interactive scenario for the suspect.
During a Mr. Big sting, the RCMP pretends to run into the suspect by chance and gets the suspect to do a small favour for the “criminal organization.” The police then exploit the relationship and offer gifts, companionship, meals, entertainment, and employment to gain his trust. The undercover officers build a relationship with the suspect, and then gets the suspect to participate in fake criminal acts such as credit card scams, selling guns, or delivering goods, and the RCMP pays the suspect. The Mr. Big sting may involve as many as 50 RCMP operatives.
Once the suspect is immersed in the fake criminal organization, he is persuaded to reveal information about his own criminal history in order for him to become a member of the criminal organization.
Eventually the suspect gets to meet the crime boss “Mr. Big” who tells the suspect he received incriminating information from the police about the suspect and his arrest threatens the crime group. To avoid this, the suspect must tell Mr. Big all the details of the unsolved crime the suspect was involved with so Mr. Big can clean up the situation by framing someone else or tampering with incriminating evidence.
In some cases, the suspect is pressured to confess as a sign of loyalty to the criminal organization.
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