SASKATOON — A Saskatoon judge says a man's admission to undercover police about killing and burning the body of a woman met the test set out by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Judge Gerald Allbright has ruled today that Douglas Hales was guilty of second-degree murder and offering indignity to human remains in the death of Daleen Bosse in 2004.
A verdict had been delayed for months because the top court's ruling on a case out of Newfoundland changed rules for evidence gathered by undercover police.
RCMP testified at trial they got a confession from Hales in 2008 using what's known as the "Mr. Big" sting, where they posed as gangsters out to recruit him.
Eventually, the defence and the Crown were allowed one more chance to present final arguments, including submissions about how the Supreme Court's ruling should be applied to Hales' case.
Allbright said Hales lied about details in his testimony, and didn't buy Hales's story that Bosse died of alcohol poisoning.
Hales was originially charged with first-degree murder, but the udge said the Crown did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hales planned to kill Bosse.
Officers got a confession from Hales in 2008 using what’s known as a “Mr. Big” technique. By pretending to be gangsters out to recruit him, police were able to record Hales making detailed admissions about Bosse. He led undercover cops to Bosse’s remains.
Hales testified his graphic and brutal story of killing Bosse was made up to impress the undercover officers.
Allbright said he believes Bosse had some drinks that night but not enough to kill her.
"I'm not satisfied Daleen Bosse was anything other than a social drinker,” the judge said.
Sentencing is set for this afternoon.
