Darryl Sheepway confessed to me, says former co-worker at Whitehorse murder trial

Darryl Sheepway was a heavy user of crack cocaine, his former co-worker and fellow drug user testified at his murder trial in Whitehorse on Wednesday.

The woman also told the court that Sheepwayconfessed to her that he killed Christopher Brisson, and told her she was the first to know.

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

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Sheepway, 39,is charged with first-degree murder in the 2015 death of Brissonin Whitehorse. He has admitted to fatally shootingBrisson, but has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

His formerco-worker, who cannot be named because of a publication ban, told Yukon Supreme Court that she regularly did crackwith Sheepway in the months leading up to Brisson'sdeath.

She was also the second witness at the trial this weekto not enter the courtroom, instead offering testimony by closed circuit television. In an affidavit submitted to presiding Justice Leigh Gower, she saidshe was scared of Sheepway and did not want to see him.

"Because of what he's put me through," she told the court, as part of her application to testify via closed circuit television.

"Because the last twoyears of my life have been horrible, horrendous,given me nightmares. I have PTSD. I'm scared of seeing him. I'm scared of not being able to give my best evidence, if I have to see him," she said.

Doing crack with Sheepway

While they were co-workers, the woman testified,she and Sheepway started doing drugs together. She said she wasn't sure when that relationship started, but it was sometime in 2015.

They would meet a couple of times a week to do crack, she said, usually at her house.

Asked to describe Sheepway'sdrug use on a scale of zeroto 10, with zerobeing a recreational user and 10 being a heavy user, the woman said Sheepwaywas "probably a nine or 10."

The woman also testified that she struggled with addiction herself, and had been trying tokickdrugs at the time. She was able tofor periods, she said, but frequently relapsed. She told the court that Sheepwayknew of her efforts to quit, but would "manipulate me into using drugs."

She said she's now been clean since May 2016.

'He told me he shot him'

The woman told the court she couldn't remember exactly when Sheepwayconfessed the killing to her, but she admitted that she did not report itto police right away.

It was one evening when they were in her basement doing crack, she told the court. She said she sensed something was wrong, and asked Sheepwaywhat was bothering him.

"He had killed his drug dealer, is what he said," the woman told the court.

"I remember asking him, 'what happened, was it an accident?' He said no. He told me he shot him."

She said shebelieved Sheepwaykilled Brissonfor"drugs and money."

After Sheepway's confession, she said she tried to "play it cool," and pretend not to be disturbed.

"I wanted to make it seem that I was not scared, that I was OK.I think I was in a little bit of shock too," she said.

She said Sheepway told her that nobody else knew, and he didn't go into great detail about Brisson'sdeath. She also said he showed no emotion as he talked.

"It was eerie. He was just kind of stone-faced," she said.

Afterward, she "just didn't know what to do with the information."

Eventuallyshe said she's not sure exactly whenshe told her addictions counsellor. The two then went directly to the RCMPstation in Whitehorse and told the officer on duty.

She felt he didn't take her seriously, she told the court, but sometime later police contacted her for a formal statement.

Sheepway was ultimately chargedin August2016.

His former wife testified on Tuesday that Sheepwayhad also confessed to her on at least two occasions in the months leading up to his arrest.

The trial continues on Thursday.

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

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