 Chris Little (centre) is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his estranged wife, Julie Crocker (right), and Paula Menendez (left). (HO)
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NEWMARKET -- In a calm, unwavering voice, Chris Little denied killing his estranged wife and another woman and staging it as a murder-suicide.
The prosecution is alleging he kidnapped and strangled radio sportscaster Rick Ralph's estranged wife to conceal the murder of his own spouse in their matrimonial bed.
Little allegedly killed Paula Menendez and then fatally slashed the throat of his wife Julie Crocker, who was romantically involved with Ralph.
Little, 38, is accused of two counts of first-degree murder in the Feb. 12, 2007, deaths of Crocker, 33, and Menendez, 34.
It's alleged Little killed both women and then staged it as a murder-suicide perpetrated by Menendez at his Larkin Ave. home. Menendez was found with her neck and feet bound in the garage.
With his first question, Little's lawyer John Rosen asked his client if he killed Crocker.
"No," replied Little.
"Did you kidnap and kill Paula Menendez?" was Rosen's second question.
Little denied it and stated that he had nothing to do with setting the scene at his home.
When Rosen asked Little to describe his 13-year relationship with Crocker, he said, "I don't mean to blame Julie," and then revealed her history of adultery.
"We had a good relationship, enjoyed doing the same things. No, Julie was a great mother, very attentive to our children," Little told the jury.
Little listed her several affairs, starting with one that lasted for two months with an unnamed lover before the couple married June 14, 1997.
The last affair Julie had on Little was with Ralph in '06. Little told the jury how he acquired an expertise in collecting evidence of his wife's unfaithfulness.
Little's suspicions were raised again when Crocker started keeping late hours in '06. He installed a GPS on her Volvo, tracking her ultimately to the Clarion Hotel where he discovered her and Ralph in a hotel room on Oct. 2, 2006.
"Basically I did that to bring this relationship to light ... I wanted to reconcile our marriage and have an exclusive (sexual) relationship with Julie," Little said.
Little testified he and Crocker decided to separate after the hotel room incident.
The Markham fibreglass salesman also recalled finding Ralph sleeping in his matrimonial bed with Crocker in December 2006 when Little was supposed to be in Montreal on a business trip. "How can you do this with the two kids sleeping next door?" he recalled asking Crocker.
The trial continues today.
