A truck registered to David Woods made a quick trip towards Blackstrap Lake just days before his wife’s body was found in a culvert near the lake, a jury heard Tuesday.
David Woods is accused of first-degree murder in the death of his wife Dorothy Woods. Woods went missing in November 2011 and her body was found in a culvert south of Saskatoon on Jan. 4, 2012.
A police officer testified Tuesday in day two of Woods’ trial at Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench that he had installed GPS devices to two vehicles registered to David Woods. One vehicle was tracked, just two days before Dorothy’s body was found, travelling south on Highway 11 towards Blackstrap Lake before turning around and returning to the couple’s home on Riel Crescent.
The officer said police issued a news release Jan. 2, 2012, stating an adult female’s body was found east of Saskatoon. David Woods’ truck made the trip south of the city just hours after the release was published.
A sped-up video outlining the route the truck took was shown to the jury. The group will take a trip next week, driving the same route.
Police also set up surveillance cameras outside the Woods’ home, court heard. While surveillance footage was not shown Tuesday, the defence pointed out the footage does not identify who was driving the truck.
A friend of Dorothy’s testified earlier in the day that she talked to Dorothy on Nov. 11, 2011 — the day Dorothy was last seen.
Dorothy told her friend she was planning to leave her husband.
“Deep down I knew she wasn’t with us anymore because she would never leave her kids,” the friend testified.
A man who Dorothy had a sexual encounter with also testified. Court saw graphic racist and threatening text messages sent to the witness from someone accusing him of impregnating Dorothy.
The witness said he believes the texts were sent from David Woods.
Court also saw text messages from Dorothy’s cellphone asking the witness for a date.
The defence argued there’s no evidence proving David Woods sent the messages.
“I think by the end of the trial, there will still be nothing linking that cellphone to Mr. Woods,” said defence lawyer Michael Nolin.
The trial continues Wednesday.