HALIFAX — A blood-caked Nicholas Butcher told an officer he was "sorry," minutes after he informed a 911 dispatcher he had killed his girlfriend and tried to kill himself, the law school graduate's second-degree murder trial heard Thursday.
The 14-member Nova Scotia Supreme Court jury watched a video statement Thursday from Sgt. Matthew MacGillivray, who arrested the 35-year-old man at Kristin Johnston's Halifax-area home on March 26, 2016.
The Halifax police officer died of cancer in November 2017, and gave the sworn statement on Sept. 5, 2017, knowing he likely wouldn't be alive to testify at the 35-year-old man's trial.
On the video, MacGillivray said Butcher was covered in dry, caked-on blood when he emerged from the home shirtless and wearing pyjama pants, and that he was tasked with remaining with him on the porch.
He said he was trying to maintain a dialogue with Butcher, who was missing his right hand and had injuries on his neck, so he didn't fall unconscious.
MacGillivray said Butcher kept repeating "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry ... I want to call my mother"
He said that day was "hard to forget."
"This is one of the most bizarre calls I've ever been on for a number of reasons," said MacGillivray.
Police officers have testified they found the body of the Montreal-born yoga instructor in the master bedroom of her Purcells Cove home on a blood-soaked bed, next to a steak knife.
They testified that a mitre saw and an amputated hand were found nearby.
Butcher has pleaded not guilty.
