Accused murderer's brother tells court he overheard confession: 'I killed her'

The brother of the man charged with murdering aJapanese exchange student in Vancouver testified before B.C. Supreme Court again on Friday, describing the moment he overheardwhat he believedto be his younger brother'sconfession.

Warren Schneider was cross-examined by the accused killer's lawyer. He is 11 months older than his brother.

William Schneider, 51, is charged with second-degree murder ofNatsumi Kogawa, 30, in 2016. He's also accused of interfering with human remains.

The student's decomposed body wasfound in a suitcase in Vancouver's West End, more than two weeks after she went missing.

'I did it'

Warren Schneider first testifiedathis brother's trial on Thursdaybut was up again Friday for cross-examination.

Taking the stand for the second time, Warren described how he overheard his brother William call his wife in Japan and say: "I did it. I killed her."

Defencelawyer Joe Doyle countered by askingWarren how he could knowwhat his sister-in-law was saying on the other end of the phone line.Warren replied, admittinghe had no way to know for certain.

Doyle also reviewed Warren's own criminal history,including 15 days served in jail for drunk driving convictions and a 1985 conviction for possession of stolen goods.

The lawyer then asked about each phone call Warren received on Sept. 28, 2016, the same dayKogawa's body was found near thehistoric Gabriola mansion on Davie Street.

Warren said he and William walked to a beer store near Polson Park in Vernon, B.C., that day, wherethe suicidal accused handed over his passport and described where to find Kogawa's body after he died.

Warren then described watching hisyounger brother attempt to overdose by injecting heroin and drinking two mickeysof liquor. Warrenrecalled drinking beer while his distraught brother drank sambuca.

The witness saidthey drank alcohol, cried,hugged and took a photo, thinking it would be their last moments together.

But William"got ripped off," according to his brother, and the drugs weren't strong enough to kill him.

Warren said he secretly called 911 to report the overdose. Then, he says, he went to the VernonRCMPdetachmentand told them where to findKogawa'sbody in Vancouver.

The next morning,Warrenreturned to the park where he'd sat with Williamtofind police had cordoned off a crime scene.

Warren thought his brother had been found dead.

"I didn't want my brother lying in the bush like that," he said, adding he was relieved to learn his brother had survived.

Kogawa had been studying English in Vancouver on a student visa. She went missing on Sept. 8, 2016.

William Schneider's trial is set to continue intonext week.

With files from Rafferty Baker

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