WINNIPEG — An expert in collision reconstruction told a murder trial Wednesday there is little evidence to suggest a car belonging to the accused was used to run down a neighbour trying to rob him.
The expert was testifying Wednesday at the trial of Eric Wildman, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Clifford Joseph.
Joseph was reported missing on June 7, 2021, and his remains were found the following month in a rural area northeast of Winnipeg.
Crown prosecutors allege Wildman ran down and executed Joseph after he caught the 40-year-old stealing from his property in the Rural Municipality of St. Clements.
During the first day of defence evidence, Wildman's lawyers told the jury to hold off on making up their minds until they've heard evidence from both sides.
"This case is nothing more than assumption and speculation rather than real evidence," Martin Glazer told court.
Court heard from Terry Lolacher, a collision reconstruction expert and former police officer, who said it did not appear Wildman's vehicle had hit a pedestrian.
“I can’t say that that car showed any signs that were conclusive that would tie that vehicle to any particular pedestrian," Lolacher testified by video from Edmonton, where he is based.
“I found nothing that I could link that hood to hitting any pedestrian at any time. There’s no forensic blood or tissue, or fabric imprints from a pedestrian."
Lolacher based his conclusions on investigative reports and notes, police photographs, an autopsy report and satellite images of Wildman's property.
He told the jury that based off the material that was provided to him it appeared some of the damage found on Wildman's car was not conducive to hitting a person but instead something hard like brick or concrete.
Lolacher went on to say that damage elsewhere could have been caused by a smaller animal, such as a female deer, or by vandalism.
Court has heard Joseph's girlfriend reported him missing to police several hours after he had left home.
The trial heard the woman went to Wildman's property and found Joseph's runners, black snapback hat, and orange and black headlamp. She also discovered his truck parked near a different residence with his keys and phone inside.
An agreed statement of facts that was read at the start of the trial said a search of Joseph's phone found no contact between him and Wildman before his disappearance and there were no messages on Joseph's phone that indicated he had plans to steal from his neighbour. It also said there was no DNA located in or on Wildman's vehicle.
The Crown prosecutor has alleged Wildman purchased a new hood for his car after Joseph was reported missing in an effort to cover up the damage. Police seized the old hood from an autobody shop as well as Wildman's car.
Lolacher also testified to comparing satellite images from Google Earth of Wildman's property with drone images that were taken by police. He said in the month before Joseph's disappearance there appeared "to be all kinds of tire tracks in that field," suggesting that somebody had been driving there beforehand.
Crown prosecutor Christian Vanderhooft challenged Lolacher's findings during cross-examination, arguing that the defence witness did not examine Wildman's vehicle in person and that he did not have all the evidence, including other witness testimony and surveillance video.
The trial before Court of King's Bench Justice Richard Saull is scheduled to run until next week.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2025.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
