Another witness at an arson trial in Dauphin has said they lied because they didn't want to be a snitch.
A woman who took the stand yesterday said she was connected to someone in PK Mobsters -- a gang frequently mentioned in the trial -- in August 2013. She told court she was initially uncooperative with police because "you don't snitch."
Court heard that the woman was arrested a few days after the fire and first told police she knew nothing, but later started talking.
In court yesterday, the witness said she drove to the house with the accused on the day of the fire, hoping to get weed (she stayed in the vehicle). She said one of them took a red lighter from her van and brought it with them when they allegedly entered the home. She told court that on that day -- August 31, 2013 -- the accused first told her they had just broken a TV and a laptop. But she said when they got back to her place one was crying, saying the other had lit a blanket on fire.
The defence asked if the witness was willing to say anything just to get the cops off her back. The witness said she was "pissed off" so she's sure she did lie about some stuff, but "not all of it was a lie."
Earlier in the day yesterday, the defence finished its cross-examination of a man who was living in the house at the time of the fire.
27-year-old Sean Nepinak and 25-year-old Seamus Nepinak are facing four counts of arson and one count of participating in the activities of a criminal organization. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The trial continues.
