Former wife describes Darryl Sheepway's 'double life,' at Whitehorse murder trial

The former wife of Darryl Sheepwayon trial for murder in the 2015 death of Christopher Brissontestified against him onTuesdayin Yukon Supreme Court.

In several hours of riveting and emotional testimony, Katherine Scheckdescribed how her marriage was badly founderingin the months before Brisson's killing, as Sheepwayspiraled into drug addiction and deceit.

• Man admitted shooting Christopher Brisson and dumping body, Whitehorse murder trial hears

Sheepway, 39,has admitted to killing Brissonon Aug. 28, 2015, during a rendezvous where Sheepwaywas hoping to secure crack cocaine. During that meeting, Sheepwayshot Brissondead and later dumped the body near Miles Canyon.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder.

• Whitehorse man charged with 1st-degree murder of Christopher Brisson

Schecksays she knew nothing about Sheepway'scrime untilalmost a year later, when heconfessedit to her. She immediately contactedpolice, leading toSheepway's arrest. He was charged in August 2016.

Scheckdidnot appear inthe Whitehorse courtroom in person on Tuesday. Instead, she testifiedby closed circuit television.

Scheckhad appliedto be allowed to testify from outside the courtroom, and Justice Leigh Goweragreed. In her affidavit, Schecksaid she was extremely angry at Sheepway, and her testimony might suffer if she were forced to be in the room withhim.

'A double life'

Sheepwaywas clearly distraught throughout Scheck's testimony, often burying his head in his hands and sobbing loudly.

The two had met whileworking togetheras guards at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre and married in 2012.Scheckdescribed a difficult relationship that became even more strained after their daughter was born the following year.

"From the time I met him, all throughout our relationship, he was always laying the groundwork for leading a double life," Scheck said.

"Looking back, it was not a healthy relationship and he treated me really horribly."

Schecksaid she had known since 2014 that Sheepway struggled with marijuana abuse, and had sought counselling. By the summer of 2015, though, he was a daily user of crack cocaine. Scheckinitiallyhad no idea, despite the fact they were both home on parental leave with their second, newborn child.

On the morning of Aug. 28, 2015, she noticed that someone had been using the couple's credit card to withdraw money and cash advances$1,200 had been withdrawn over several preceding weeks.

Schecksaid at first she thought that it was fraud, and Sheepway seemed equally concerned and puzzled. She said he suggested the possibility of identity theft. Scheck talked to the credit card company, andRCMP.

Schecksaid she was suspicious though, sinceSheepway was the only other person with access to the card, and knewthe card's PIN.

She questioned him, she said, and hedenied knowing anything about it.

"Darryl is really good at denying things and lying about things," Schecktold the court.

"His denial was so convincing that it left me confused and still not 100 per cent sure it was him. Pretty sure, but he was so convincing and genuine that I was just confused and upset."

They continued talking about it until early afternoon, when Scheckhad to go pick up her daughter.

Sheepwaycalled Brissonthat afternoon, and arranged the rendezvous that would end with Brissondead in a ditch.

• Man admitted shooting Christopher Brisson and dumping body, Whitehorse murder trial hears

The dealer and the buyer

The court also heard on Tuesday an audio recording of Sheepway speaking to police in April 2016. In it, he described the nature of his relationship to Brisson.

RCMP at that time were still investigating Brisson'sdeath. They were questioning Sheepway because his number had been found on Brisson'sphone.

Sheepway had just returned to Yukon from Ontario, where he had been in treatment for addiction. He hadnot yet told anybody about his role in Brisson'sdeath.

Sheepway told police thenthat he had met Brissonin early August 2015, after getting his number from a friend. Sheepwaysaid hebegan buying crackfrom Brissonalmost daily, until Aug. 28.

The two would meet at various locations, Sheepway said, usually arranged by text messaging. He says he never knew anything else aboutBrisson, including his name, until after Brissonwas dead.

He learned Brisson's name from anewspaper, he told police. He had only ever called him "man."

In the recording, Sheepway also said he remembered wondering who he'd buy drugs from now. Brissonhad proved to be a reliable and fast dealer, he told police at the time.

Discovery of drug use

According to Scheck, Sheepwaytold her about his crack cocaine use within hours of Brisson's death. The two were back at home that night, talking again about the credit card withdrawals.

When Sheepwayfinally told her about his drug use, Schecksaid she was shocked. She told the court she never suspected he would "dabble with hard drugs."

The two agreed that Sheepway would seek addictions treatment the following Monday, Scheck told the court. The next day was Saturday, and Scheckresolved to watch him closely all weekend.

The two spent most of the next day doing chores around the house, she told the court. At one point, she caught Sheepwaysmoking crack in the bathroom. She said they argued, and she took his drugs away.

The following day, Scheck said the family decided to go into town and Sheepwaysuggested astop at Miles Canyon for a family photograph.

Earlier in the trial, the court sawvideo evidence of Sheepwayexplaining that he wanted to go to Miles Canyon that day to see if there was any activity in the area where he had dumped Brisson'sbody, two days earlier.

Scheck recalled thinking Sheepway'sdesire for a photowas uncharacteristic and "very, very strange."

Later that night, back at home, Schecksaid she found Sheepway with drugs again. He was extremely agitated, she said, and they immediately went and checked him into a detox facility.

He was in and out of detox in Yukon and Ontario in the following months. At one point, Scheck said, Sheepway told her he would be able to stay clean because his dealer was dead. He told her it was Brisson, whose body had been found in Miles Canyon.

Confesses to Scheck

By May, Sheepwaywas out of treatment, but estranged from Scheck.

Scheck told the court that Sheepwaycalled her from Prince George, B.C., on May 28, 2016. She said hetold her his life wasn't worth living anymore, andhe'd spendtherest of his life in jail.

Schecksaid she didn't understand.

"That guy I killed that guy," Schecksaid he told her.

• Man admitted shooting Christopher Brisson and dumping body, Whitehorse murder trial hears

ScheckkeptSheepwayon the line, trying to get him to explain exactly what happened, while using another phone to record their conversation. She said she was shaking and felt sick to her stomach. She said she also managed to get somebody to call the police, while she stayed on the phone with Sheepway.

Schecksaid Sheepwaydid not say anything to her then about Brisson'sdeath being an accident.

Police then managed to track Sheepway down and take him into custody. He was transferred to Whitehorse Correctional Centre within a week, the court heard.

Scheckmade a number of visits to Sheepway while he was in custody. She told court that during one of those visits, he went into more detail about what happened with Brisson.

He told her it felt good to be able to talk about it, Schecktestified.

The trial continues on Wednesday.