Douglas Hales’ confession during a police interrogation to strangling Daleen Bosse will be allowed as evidence in his first-degree murder trial, a judge ruled Thursday at Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.
A police video showing the confession was the matter of a voir dire — a separate hearing to determine the admissibility of evidence — throughout the four-week trial. The debate centred upon whether Hales voluntarily confessed.
Hales made the confession during a police interview in which it was revealed he was the subject of a three-month sting operation, known as the ‘Mr. Big’ sting. The sting was set up to convince Hales he was being recruited into a national crime syndicate.
The defence argued throughout the voir dire that Hales’ realization the police sting was fake left him traumatized and that he wasn’t fit to be interviewed.
Justice Gerald Allbright ruled, however, Hales was mentally fit when he confessed during the interrogation.
The crown proved police didn’t use threats, promises, oppression or trickery to get the confession, Allbright said.
Hales is charged with first-degree murder and indignity to human remains in the death of Bosse.
Bosse, 25, was last seen at a Saskatoon nightclub in May 2004 and her remains were discovered northeast of the city more than four years later.
--- with files from the Canadian Press
