It's a calm, polite Michael Sandham that stands in the witness box at the Bandidos trial.

The ex-cop and former Winnipeg Bandido routinely calls the lawyers who question him "sir" and told the jury on the first day of his testimony he was "soft-spoken."

But in a video of his first interview with police, the day after he was arrested in June 2006, it's a ranting and raving Sandham who repeatedly denies even being at Wayne Kellestine's farm on April 8, 2006, when eight Toronto-area bikers were shot to death.

"I wasn't there," he said repeatedly. The jury has heard he said the same phrase and variations of it 223 times.

Sandham, 39, in his sixth day of testimony, told lawyer Michael Moon, who represents accused Dwight Mushey, he wouldn't confirm anything to police because they had his wife, Kathy, in custody.

He said he was lying to protect his wife -- being held on a charge of accessory after the fact for her role in the disposal of tires from Sandham's red GMC Jimmy -- and children.

He told Moon he was convinced if he gave up information about the shootings his wife would be formally charged and his children taken into care.

"As soon as I knew she was safe, I reached out to the OPP," he said.

That didn't happen, Sandham said, until he was shipped to Ontario. And it was "a long process" to reach them.

Sandham did make a second statement to police, but not until Dec. 29, 2006.

The first statement, Sandham admitted, was full of lies.

OPP Det. Sgt Michael Bickerton told Sandham from the start there was compelling evidence he was at Kellestine's farm at the time of the shootings.

Bickerton showed him a photo of him and other accused at the London airport.

"I wasn't there," Sandham said.

The officer told him they had numerous tire impressions that matched the tires that had been on Sandham's red GMC Jimmy.

"I wasn't there," Sandham said.

Bickerton said police had watched him change his tires in Selkirk, Man., then dispose of the old ones by rolling them into a ditch.

"I wasn't there," Sandham said impatiently.

Bickerton said it was peculiar to roll the old tires into a ditch instead of letting Wal-Mart take them.

"They didn't offer," Sandham said to the officer.

He was told there was a police agent at the farm who identified Sandham and had worn a body pack in Winnipeg.

"I wasn't there," he said.

Sandham was told police had video surveillance of him at the Wal-Mart in Barrie.

"I wasn't there. I don't even know where Barrie is," he said.

Sandham told Bickerton he was home raking dirt at his house. He told Bickerton to check his muddy boots and rake in his garage.

He said he wasn't a member of the Bandidos and he wasn't known as Taz.

"I told you I can't be in two places at once," Sandham insisted.

When asked point blank if he shot Luis (Chopper) Raposo, Sandham was more animated. "I did not shoot him. I did not," he yelled.

Sandham denied shooting anyone. He called the interview "ridiculous" and "crap."

"I believe that you believe that what you have is the truth," Sandham said to Bickerton.

Bickerton gave Sandham several opportunities to come clean. Instead, he kept denying any involvement.

"Just because someone goes on a trip doesn't mean they committed a crime," he said.

In court yesterday, Sandham told Moon he didn't trust what Bickerton was telling him. "Police officers lie all the time. I couldn't take him for his word."

"You have to imagine what was going through my head," he told Moon.

It was another day-long verbal sparing match between Sandham and Moon, who started his cross-examination last Friday.

The trial continues today.

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The dead

George (Pony) Jessome, 52; George (Crash) Kriarakis, 28; Bandidos Canada National president John (Boxer) Muscedere, 48; Luis (Chopper) Raposo, 41; Toronto Bandidos chapter president Frank (Bam Bam) Salerno, 43; Paul (Big Paulie) Sinopoli, 30; Jamie (Goldberg) Flanz, 37; and Michael (Little Mikey) Trotta, 31.

The accused

Wayne Kellestine, 60, and Frank Mather, 35, of Dutton-Dunwich; Brett Gardiner, 25, of no fixed address; and Michael Sandham, 39, Marcelo Aravena, 33, and Dwight Mushey, 41, of Winnipeg have all pleaded not guilty to eight counts of first degree murder.