The rear of the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse in Belleville, on June 15, 2017. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
The defence has begun its case in the trial of a Marmora woman, accused in a 2015 robbery, kidnapping and forcible confinement case.
Defence lawyer John Bonn made no formal opening statement, but called Jessica Youmans to the stand right away Thursday afternoon.
Youmans told court after spending some time with the plaintiff, Stan McGovern at the Marmora Legion on the night of January 23, 2015, she went back to a friend’s house until the early morning hours.
When she returned home, she says someone had broken in, ransacked the place, gone through some personal belongings in her room and stolen $200 from her dresser.
Believing McGovern was responsible, Youmans went to the house he was staying at with his girlfriend and accused him of the break-in.
Contrary to the case of the prosecution, Youmans made no mention of threatening McGovern with a knife and says McGovern was never held against his will.
Youmans did admit that later that morning, after picking up her co-accused Tyson Gordon, who has already pleaded guilty, the pair saw McGovern walking down the street and confronted him, leading to a physical altercation.
But Youmans told the court that the fight only happened after McGovern made threats against herself and Gordon with a pair of butcher’s knives.
Youmans says following that fight, McGovern admitted to the break-in and theft at her home, volunteered his bank card to pay back the stolen cash, and went with them to clean up the mess.
Assistant Crown Attorney Lynn Ross began her cross examination Thursday afternoon, with the trial to continue on Friday.
