Bosma Murder Trial 02.01.16 - Day 1, Opening Statements

[Alice Ramnit]

thoughts:

A gun was present, since tb was shot with one. So we know they were willing to kill if they deemed it necessary. Otherwise why bring a gun to buy a truck? So they're already over the mental hurdle where violence has become an option.

Meanwhile, we have good reason to think they'd killed before. I've said all along that tb felt like escalation. They got away with lb, they got away with wm, and by the time of the truck scenario, killing probably seemed "easy".

Millard is an adrenaline junkie, and it's pretty clear he's not living in reality with regards to his own self-image. He probably still thinks he's "winning".

In short, i think they killed tb because they could, and because they believed they would easily get away with it--because they already had twice before.

I believe dm is a sociopath, and ms (and cn) went along for the ride. Dm is probably quite charismatic to certain types of people.

great post! Yes yes yes!!!

 

[ArianeEmory]

Does anyone else remember seeing this on the news at the time? I feel like the surveillance video was aired but can't seem to find it anywhere now. I believe it was in Brantford (where TB's cell phone was later found) so it would be separate video than those at the hangar.

I wish I could say I remember for sure. I don't think so, though, because if that footage was available anywhere we would have seen it come up over and over in threads, including frames/stills, and I don't remember that ever happening. Anyone else?

 

[ArianeEmory]

FWIW, I definitely remember discussing the EXISTENCE of such footage--just not actually seeing it.

And I also don't understand how they got to TB's.

Could the driver be someone who has already cut a deal?

 

[Kamille]

I think the Crown is trying to prove the there was intent to kill Tim Bosma, not an accidental shooting.

I don't think it was intended but when it happened it was no accident IMO. They were committing armed robbery. Maybe they decided it was too risky to keep him alive?

MOO

 

[Wondergirl]

IMHO and only IMHO, I'm thinking that the security video and DVD showing TB's truck pulling DM's incinerator, pulling up to DM's hangar and then DM and MS in the hangar while the incinerator was ignited outside the hangar, TB's blood splatter in the truck that's parked in the trailer in his mommy's driveway would have been enough for the AG to issue a direct indictment. Add onto that a sharp employee who snapped a pic of TB's truck complete with VIN# and then forwarding it to Crime Stoppers- Wow, wow, wow. Leaves me with some real soul searching questions- why of all the people around DM- his gf, MS's gf, DM's roommate, his Mother, CN's parents- why was there only that one male employee with enough moral fortitude to contact crime stoppers? I guess time will tell, but I'll be stuck on the "why" for a while. MOO

Great question, as to the moral fortitude. This entire case is mortifying.

 

[redheart]

FWIW, I definitely remember discussing the EXISTENCE of such footage--just not actually seeing it.

And I also don't understand how they got to TB's.

Could the driver be someone who has already cut a deal?

BBM

I think they drove the Yukon very close to the Bosma's house and parked and walked the rest of the way.

We'll find out soon!

 

[matou]

If it was just the truck they wanted and they had at least one gun to assist with the robbery, why didn't they just rob the big guy for his truck?

 

[Kamille]

I really fear that they are going to try to blame this on Tim.
'Tim freaked out, Tim tried to grab the gun, the gun went off...'

blah, blah, blah

No doubt. But will both say the other was holding the gun at the time?

After hearing the evidence, I'm not sure how either are going to say they were not there or didn't know what was happening other than there are two vehicles and two defendants. One was likely not in the truck with TB and perhaps will claim they weren't even at the scene when he was shot? A true finger pointing exercise and which one do you believe? I really don't know. I can't see how either think they are going to be acquitted. :waitasec:

MOO

 

[Kamille]

If it was just the truck they wanted and they had at least one gun to assist with the robbery, why didn't they just rob the big guy for his truck?

He probably would have tried to overpower the gun holder and he may have succeeded? Or he may have had to be killed but he was tougher to haul around for disposal?

MOO

 

[Kamille]

I'm curious about the prosecutor's choice of words (red font). Is he stating they literally both shot Tim, or they are equally responsible for the shooting?

They can't say for sure who actually pulled the trigger, one's dead and the other two aren't talking (even if they were they'd each be claiming the other I'm sure) and since the shooting happened during an abduction that they were both a party to, I believe it doesn't matter. They are both equally responsible.

MOO

 

[Wondergirl]

http://www.macleans.ca/general/susp...condo-the-day-after-tim-bosmas-disappearance/

Motive - This is why I believe the truck is NOT the motive for the crime. Maybe they had an order to chop up some parts for that type of truck, or whatever, but, the real motive was the thrill of the kill, IMO.

The had the $ to buy or simply just steal the truck outright in the middle of the night.

Three - 3 - potential other victims were not preyed upon in the end.

Tim was chosen, because he was slight enough for them to murder. In my opinion, they were making some wacked out snuff video to distribute, because they enjoyed the thrill of the kill.

Evil, psychopaths.

 

[HackD]

WTH? 1:30am? They left Tim's house at approximately 9:20/9:30pm. So what did they do for four hours? I wonder, did they shoot Tim soon after leaving his house or did they hold him hostage and torment him before shooting him?

So this is the guy, DM, who DP claimed was intelligent and philosophical?! :slap:

It's fantastic to learn MS's gf and the employee came forward to assist in the investigation. All MOO.

This started off in Ancaster, going to Brantford. Sometime in there, TB was offed, and by the sounds of it, messily so. 20 minutes to get to Brantford, add 15 minutes for homicidal mayhem. Next stop was to pick up the incinerator at the farm in North Waterloo. Add 40 minutes or so for that. Zip back down through Waterloo with incinerator in tow to the airport .. another 20 minutes. There's easily almost 2 hours to account for, right there.

 

[Kamille]

Continuing on my earlier theme, I bet they felt killing someone for a truck would be easier (and more thrilling) than whatever DM would need to do to liquidate $24k. Or possibly easier and more thrilling than writing a check, if it comes to that.

Having spent so much time focused on the farm, I agree it is weird to discover how much of this crime took place in the hangar. My current thoughts are that DM fancied himself a businessman, and now that Dad was dead, the hangar was both his man-cave/toy storage and his place of "business". He felt more in control there.

The farm was for partying; the hangar was for business, including the business of illegally obtaining vehicles. So they went there to take care of business.

Sorry to frame it so callously, but this is my impression when I try to get inside their heads, and no it is not a fun exercise.

I think the farm has neighbours who are there 24/7. The hangar does not. Don't think he thought about surveillance on the outside of another business. They must have gone to the farm first to get the incinerator as one of the neighbours claimed that he did keep it there but that it had been moved. So he probably knew that if he fired it up there, a neighbour might notice.

MOO

 

[hopingforjustice]

Returning the incinerator to the farm?

Or taking the truck to Mom's?

 

[Tamarind]

I think the "shorter than the first man" quite possibly refers to stature rather than hair length. Don't think it will make much difference given they are apparently both on video dealing with Tim's truck.

You ( and the other posters who suggest this) may be right that he was referring to height as far the 'shorter' is concerned. But he does say his hair was dark. It was dark outside and his hood was up and apparently he would not face/look at them. The wedding picture of MS shortly after the disappearance of TB showed MS had very short hair IIRC, so I am wondering how his hair was seen for it's colour beneath a hoody.

I am just pointing out that witness testimony is not always 100% reliable, what appears to not matter can sometimes matter a great deal. I am not saying this is the case here. But, I try not to overlook anything the shows inconsistency/inaccuracy. HTH MOO

 

[hopingforjustice]

They can't say for sure who actually pulled the trigger, one's dead and the other two aren't talking (even if they were they'd each be claiming the other I'm sure) and since the shooting happened during an abduction that they were both a party to, I believe it doesn't matter. They are both equally responsible.

MOO

BBM

Curious....when does this come into play? At the final charge to the jury? If I am not mistaken, so far as the initial instruction they were just told to decide on first degree murder with no explanation to them of this rule. (ie: if they find one or the other wasn't the trigger man but he was there). Perhaps SKS could explain this to me or correct me on my thoughts. TIA

 

[ArianeEmory]

If it was just the truck they wanted and they had at least one gun to assist with the robbery, why didn't they just rob the big guy for his truck?

Just repeating the other theories, but since both Etobicoke Guy's stature AND TB's have been referred in official contexts, I'm guessing "ease of disposal".

Or maybe Etobicoke guy was just a dry run.

 

[hopingforjustice]

You ( and the other posters who suggest this) may be right that he was referring to height as far the 'shorter' is concerned. But he does say his hair was dark. It was dark outside and his hood was up and apparently he would not face/look at them. The wedding picture of MS shortly after the disappearance of TB showed MS had very short hair IIRC, so I am wondering how his hair was seen for it's colour beneath a hoody.

I am just pointing out that witness testimony is not always 100% reliable, what appears to not matter can sometimes matter a great deal. I am not saying this is the case here. But, I try not to overlook anything the shows inconsistency/inaccuracy. HTH MOO

BBM If my son didn't get his hair cut for his sister's wedding, I would kick his butt! Just saying...

JMO

 

[flipflop]

You ( and the other posters who suggest this) may be right that he was referring to height as far the 'shorter' is concerned. But he does say his hair was dark. It was dark outside and his hood was up and apparently he would not face/look at them. The wedding picture of MS shortly after the disappearance of TB showed MS had very short hair IIRC, so I am wondering how his hair was seen for it's colour beneath a hoody.

I am just pointing out that witness testimony is not always 100% reliable, what appears to not matter can sometimes matter a great deal. I am not saying this is the case here. But, I try not to overlook anything the shows inconsistency/inaccuracy. HTH MOO

The tenant did say it was light enough to see them, as I read in a tweet. Also, the wedding pics....I am sure, like most groomsmen, he did get a hair cut the day or so prior to the wedding.

 

[Tamarind]

Her cell phone records show calls to DM IIRC on July 3, 2012.

Not forgetting the many other calls to many others.