Jury views interrogation video

The most anticipated piece of evidence presented so far at Matthew Foerster’s first-degree murder trial was a video interrogation involving him and a police interview team recorded April 6, 2012 at the Kelowna detachment.

It was the second time he had spoken with police following his arrest in Collingwood, Ont. a few days earlier.

A portion of the video was shown Thursday afternoon at the Kelowna Courthouse, but much of Foerster’s audio was made up of nearly unintelligible mumblings.

Foerster, who was very emotional throughout the portion of video shown to the jury, asked to see or talk to his family numerous times and made a special point of hoping to speak with his father Stephen Foerster -- Matthew's father is currently facing charges of accessory after the fact to murder and obstructing justice.

Two different officers took part in the interrogation, each one trying to develop a relationship or bond with Foerster in the hopes he would open up about the crime.

They asked him about his home in Cherryville and his relationship with his family. At one point officer Mark Davidson and Foerster hold each other in a long embrace, with Davidson heard saying, “I feel your pain. Let it out.”

Foerster is then left alone in the room and can be heard crying and sniffling while sitting in a chair with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees.

When a different officer returns, Foerster briefly talks about his family and laments that they don’t deserve any harassment. Later on he tells the officer if possible, he’d like to see his father, talk to his family and tell everyone he loves them.

The rest of the video will be shown in court on Friday.

Crown prosecutor Iain Currie told the court he expects to wrap their case next Tuesday, April 1.

Photo: Contributed