By Jessica Lepp

Manslaughter trial hears statement from accused

Oct 20, 2015 | 3:22 PM

A B.C. Supreme Court jury watched a recorded interview of a man charged with manslaughter and arson after he was arrested on April 25, 2013. David Gordon was charged after allegedly starting a fire at 927 St Paul Street in Kamloops which claimed the life of Cheryl William. Last week the jury heard Gordon was initially charged with criminal negligence causing death, four days before William died. 

This morning the jury heard an audio recording of Gordon swearing and threatening the officers who placed him in a jail cell. One officer asked Gordon if he wanted to contact a lawyer noting William was in serious condition and could die. But Gordon declined and said he didn’t care and only cared about his wife. Family and friends of the victim were visibly upset in the courtroom. When asked if he started the fire Gordon responded “only two of us live there and I’m the only one in jail.”

This afternoon the jury watched a video statement from Gordon to police, describing a good day leading up the house fire. He said he and his wife went to the casino where he lost money playing Black Jack before heading back to the house. The accused described having several drinks prior to getting into a fight with his wife. He said she eventually called the cops on him. Gordon describes leaving the house and then returning to smoke coming from his bedroom. He said he tried to put out the fire with his hoodie. The officer in the interview relayed a statement from Gordon’s wife who said there were two Davids, the man she loves when he’s sober and the man who’s not the same when he drinks. The officer also told Gordon that Cheryl William was left in the house and was in cardiac arrest from smoke inhalation and her condition was minute to minute. When repeatedly asked by the RCMP investigator why he started the fire Gordon denied  doing it and said he couldn’t remember everything. The officer told Gordon that his sense was that there was no intent to kill Cheryl. He said that Gordon wouldn’t want the public to think he was some psycho or arsonist as opposed to someone who just had too much to drink and got upset after a fight with his wife. The officer told Gordon “when you get down, you do things. You’re human.  Maybe you were thinking about hurting yourself. Don’t let anyone else put words in your mouth.” He continued to press Gordon for the truth saying “you know you were in the house — you remember.” To which Gordon responded “I don’t know.” The trial started on Thursday is expected to last at least two weeks.