Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

DAVID MILLER

Court to determine whether accused in Aberdeen murder gave statement to police voluntarily

Jan 13, 2020 | 11:51 AM

KAMLOOPS — Court proceedings began Monday morning ahead of a first-degree murder trial for a Fraser Valley man accused of killing his acquaintance in Kamloops.

David Miller is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of his 52-year-old acquaintance Debra Novacluse in August 2016.

Novacluse’s body was found at the Super 8 Motel in Aberdeen, in a room that Miller allegedly rented.

A voir dire hearing began today for Miller — which is essentially a trial within a trial to determine whether certain evidence is admissable.

In this case, the evidence is an hours-long video recorded warned statement Miller had given to Kamloops RCMP officers after he was arrested in Ontario on Sept. 1.

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Novacluse’s body was found on Aug. 27.

After Miller pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder today, Crown prosecutor Monica Fras told the court that a voir dire regarding the voluntariness of Miller’s warned statement would take roughly four to five days to get through.

Several police officers and experts are also set to testify during the voir dire.

The actual trial for Miller is expected to begin on Jan. 20 depending on the outcome of the voir dire.

Fras told the court that in his statement to police, Miller “admitted to causing the death of Ms. Novacluse.”

Fras said Kamloops RCMP were called to the Super 8 Motel on Hugh Allan Drive Aug. 27, after cleaning staff found a blood-stained mattress in one of the rooms. They also noticed a sleeping bag sticking out from underneath the mattress.

Fras said officers arrived and found Novacluse’s body in the sleeping bag. She adds that Miller was the last person to be in the room with Novacluse before he left for Ontario.

A short time later, Novacluse’s car was found in Calgary, and police came to find out where Miller was.

He was arrested near Napanee, Ont. on Sept. 1.

None of the allegations against Miller has been proven in court.