A witness provided startling testimony on Thursday in Cranbrook provincial court in the trial of Terri Reimer who is facing charges for allegedly counselling and aiding her husband to commit suicide.
In front of Judge Ron Webb, Rhonda Reimer testified about an incident she overheard while on the phone with brother-in-law, William Reimer, and alarming phrases she heard in the background from his wife, Terri.
Rhonda, a former RCMP officer, said she overheard Terri saying 'I'll get the gun' and 'just do it' and that he was a 'coward' during a telephone call between her and William on March 22, 2016.
Rhonda testified she called William out of concern after seeing a Facebook post that alleged infidelity between William and Terri in their 14-year marriage along with a 'disturbing' photograph that had been posted to the social media website.
Rhonda said William's tone of voice was soft and that he was distraught and was saying he had nothing to live for. She also testified that he had taken a quantity of pills that had been given to him by Terri.
Rhonda said William told her he had a loaded gun on his lap, but the conversation eventually stopped as he grew unresponsive. During the call, which was on her cell phone, she also used another landline to call 911 to inform the police about what was happening.
After roughly an hour and a half, the call between her and William was disconnected, so she spoke with the police for a few more minutes before hanging up and taking some notes as her RCMP training kicked in.
Why?
"Honestly I figured someday I'd be standing here answering questions," Rhonda told the courtroom.
Rhonda testified she found out afterwards from other family members that William had be having suicidal thoughts. He did not harm himself during the incident and is attending the trial.
Terri Reimer is charged with administer noxious thing with intent to endanger, aiding/abetting person to commit suicide and counselling person to commit suicide.