Facing charges of conspiracy and counselling to commit murder, co-accused Anthony Terpstra was called to the stand again Friday in Goderich Court.
That song would be delay, delay, delay.
Terpstra testified he was always trying to delay the hitman that he and Serena Benninger are accused of hiring to kill his wife Sheila Terpstra.
Terpstra told the court he hoped the hitman would just go away if he delayed long enough.
Crown Prosecutor Bob Morris asked why he would not just say this is crazy and back out of the plan if he never intended to kill her.
Morris asked why he gave the hitman 10 thousand dollars, pictures of his wife and her car, if he never wanted her dead.
Morris also took Terpstra and jury through recorded conversations he had with the hitman.
In one conversation with the hitman, who was an undercover officer, he asked Terpstra to clarify what he wanted him to do to his wife, Terpstra is on tape as saying “I want her gone, dead, killed.”
Morris also suggested that the conspiracy began at the very moment co-accused Serena Benninger mentioned she had a clean way to get rid of Terpstra’s wife and it wouldn’t cost him much, and Terpstra said “ok.”
Morris asked Terpstra why he would not just squash the idea right then and there instead of humoring Benninger – like Terpstra testified to.
That conversation happened after Terpstra told Benninger he couldn’t afford to leave his wife, intended victim Sheila Terpstra.
Anthony Terpstra and Serena Benninger are each charged with conspiracy and counselling to commit murder.
The jury is expected to have their verdict early next week – likely on Tuesday.