A former flame of victim Joseph Simonds took the stand on Day 8 of his murder trial Wednesday at the Barrie courthouse.
Simonds was killed on June 4, 2017 in his Franklin Street home of a shotgun wound to the chest and abdomen. Brian Quesnel and Martin Forget are facing first-degree murder charges for the crime.
Although initially charged with first-degree murder as well in relation to the crime, Sonny Brokenshire took a plea deal in January to the lesser crime of conspiracy to commit murder in exchange for testifying. He was sentenced to five and a half years in jail as part of the deal, less credit for pre-trial custody, which means he will serve 18 months.
According to Brokenshire’s earlier testimony last week, he said he agreed to meet with his friend Jessica Henry at a coffee shop on June 4, 2017, after Joseph Simonds had been killed and before he went to police.
“I told her a bit about what took place,” Brokenshire testified. “I told her I didn’t do it, but I saw it happen.”
“Did discussion of an alibi come up?” asked Crown attorney Mike Flosman.
“Yes, from Jessica herself,” Brokenshire responded.
Henry testified before the jury on Wednesday, and was mostly consistent with Brokenshire’s version of events. However, her version deviated on one key point.
Henry, who dated Joseph Simonds until 2014, called him “the love of her life” on the stand. She testified she was also good friends with Brokenshire. She said that on more than one occasion in May 2017, she heard Brokenshire talk about Simonds with disgust and hatred, even going so far as to mention plans for Simonds that never got specific.
“They were going to have Joe ‘dealt with’ or ‘taken care of',” testified Henry, adding that Brokenshire and his girlfriend at the time Nicole Pinto asked her on multiple occasions in May 2017 to let them know when Simonds was in Orillia, although she said she never told them.
“You were asked by your friend to set up ‘the love of your life.’ That must not have felt good,” said Brian Quesnel’s defense counsel James Harbic during cross examination.
“It didn’t feel great,” said Henry.
On June 4, 2017, Henry testified she found out through the rumour mill that Simonds had been shot, and that Brokenshire was involved.
“I messaged Sonny immediately,” said Henry. “I asked straight out, did you do this?”
Henry said she and her boyfriend at the time picked up Brokenshire and went for coffee, then ran errands, during which time a few conversations occurred about the previous evening’s events.
“He didn’t even ask – he said, ‘This works out perfectly because I can say I was drinking with you and took a cab from your place,’” said Henry while recalling one conversation.
“I agreed, but I never came forward with that information,” she added.
Two friends of Quesnel also took the stand on Wednesday, both testifying to interactions with Quesnel prior to and after the death of Simonds.
Roger Ranger told the jury he knew Quesnel for about three or four years prior to 2017. Quesnel did odd jobs with Ranger as part of his roofing business. In May 2017, Ranger testified Quesnel talked with him about his personal life.
“He was going out with some girl, and he didn’t like her boyfriend,” said Ranger. “He said something sexual happened between the guy and one of her kids.”
Ranger testified that the next time he heard from Quesnel via text message at the beginning of June 2017, Quesnel told him to Google his name and check the news. Ranger said when he did, he saw there was a warrant out for Quesnel’s arrest.
“He said he had done something, but he wouldn’t tell me what,” testified Ranger.
Tyler Down testified that he had known Quesnel for about two years prior to his arrest in June 2017.
Back in May 2017, Down said Quesnel made him a proposition.
“Brian wanted to sell me two motorbikes for a 12-gauge shotgun and $800,” said Down. “I had bought (the shotgun) from Brian probably a year prior.”
Down said he agreed, so they made an agreement and made the trade.
Shortly after making the trade, Down said he noticed he wasn’t given the key for the motorbikes. He testified he also discovered Quesnel didn’t have a firearms license.
After about a week of trying to contact Quesnel for the keys to no success, Down went to Quesnel’s residence and retrieved the gun from Quesnel’s garage along with the money, and left the motorbikes. He said he also contacted local police, as he was worried Quesnel had got himself into trouble.
“When Brian called and asked you for the shotgun, did he tell you why he needed it?” asked defense counsel for Quesnel, James Harbic.
“No. It wasn’t hunting season, so I knew he wasn’t using it for hunting,” said Down.
Harbic also asked if Down still had possession of the gun.
“I sold it about three weeks ago,” said Down.
To read about Day 1 of this trial, including opening arguments and first witnesses, click here.
To read about Day 2, including witness testimony from forensic investigators, click here.
To read about Day 3 and Day 4, which saw Sonny Brokenshire testify, click the links.
To read about Day 5, outlining links between the Chrysler 300 and the crime, click here.
To read about Day 6, where a digital forensic investigator presented text messages between some of the players in this case, click here.
To read about Day 7, where a representative from Rogers testified on cell phone tracking, click here.
