Dean Penney feared what the criminal organization he was mixed up with might do to him and said he felt pressured into admitting he had something to do with his estranged wife’s disappearance and death.

Penney was testifying for the third day at his murder trial in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook on Monday, May 11.

He’s charged with the first-degree murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney, in St. Anthony on Nov. 30, 2016.

The jury has already heard Penney’s version of how he came to get involved with a fake criminal organization that he thought was real. It was, however, all part of a Mr. Big operation used by the RCMP to find out what, if any, involvement Penney had in Hillier-Penney’s murder.

On Friday, May 8, Penney said he was afraid of what the organization could do to him and was desperate for the work as he was close to bankruptcy and losing everything.

His testimony resumed on Monday afternoon after the morning session was cancelled due to flight delays.

His lawyer, Mark Gruchy, picked up where he left off on Friday, questioning Penney on how it came to be that he was being considered for the position of captain of the head of the organization’s yacht.

The crime boss Mr. Big, identified to the court as “UC Rudy,” was actually an undercover officer. His real identity and that of other undercover officers involved in the operation are protected by a publication ban.

Penney said he jumped at the chance when he learned of the job, thinking he was better suited for that than some of the things the organization was doing.

The job opportunity was “enticing” as there was “talk of very good money,” he said.

Before Penney went to Vancouver for an interview with UC Rudy, he had a conversation with “UC Vic,” the undercover officer who was assigned to befriend Penney and bring him into the organization.

It was about another member of the organization who had messed up and was fired. UC Vic made a comment, Penney said, about if someone ever did something stupid.

Penney asks if they ever had to get rid of anyone and referenced “loose lips.”

He said he was trying to get around to asking UC Vic if anybody was to jeopardize the organization, would something different happen to them, and what sort of consequences could there be.

Gruchy asked what other consequences he was referring to, and Penney said basically getting rid of a person.

Penney said the organization was showing him everything it was doing, and he was feeling the pressure of knowing too much.

“I wasn’t really comfortable with it,” he said.

While he was concerned, he said, he tried to go along and get along with everyone, because he needed the job.

He said he didn’t really know what UC Vic meant when he made the comment about doing something stupid until it struck him that it meant if things got more serious.

On Nov. 30, 2016 — seven years to the day that Hillier-Penney disappeared — Penney was in Vancouver for his interview with UC Rudy.

Things started out tense, he said. UC Rudy was upset with UC Vic, and Penney thought it was because UC Vic had brought him into the organization without checking with UC Rudy.

Penney was worried about what was going on and said he wasn’t really ready for what was happening.

It was only the second time Penney had any dealings with UC Rudy, and he told the court he was thinking he would not take him for the job, that he was going to say he didn’t like him or need him.

UC Rudy hinted that he had a decision to make and that UC Vic could be fired, or both he and Penney could be going.

UC Vic told UC Rudy he stood behind Penney and was vouching for him.

Penney told the court this put pressure on him, as it was not only Penney who was in jeopardy, but also his friend UC Vic.

He said he was still hoping it would turn into an interview and was not fully aware of what was going on.

As UC Rudy and Penney talked alone, there were references to lying, which Penney said he took as him saying he wanted trustworthy people working for him.

UC Rudy tells Penney he’s got a “f-ing mess” on his hands. As Penney tries to say he’s innocent, he’s cut off.

Penney said that happened every time he tried to tell his side, and said he believed that UC Rudy didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

“He wants me to say a certain thing,” he told the court.

He said things kept getting heated and he felt as if more force was being applied. He repeated several times that UC Rudy didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

He said he wanted to explain how he was innocent, but UC Rudy didn’t want to hear it.

“I felt ambushed,” said Penney.

Penney told the court he felt panicked, and while UC Rudy told him he could leave, he said he didn’t know what would happen if he did.

“I didn’t think I was going to be allowed to leave at all,” he told the jury Monday, the tone of his voice sounding soft and even, the same as it had throughout his testimony.

He said it was a very scary experience and that UC Rudy was getting more and more agitated. Penney said it was something that couldn’t be seen on the video of the interview that was played for the jury because the video is blurred.

Face to face, he said, UC Rudy was very stern and was getting mad.

Gruchy asked how he knew UC Rudy was getting mad, and Penney said he was starting to yell louder and was red in the face.

Penney said again that he wanted to get up and leave, but knowing what he knew, he felt he was putting his life in jeopardy.

He said UC Rudy was forcing him into a situation where he didn’t know what to say.

UC Rudy gave Penney a document containing false information he’d allegedly obtained from the RCMP about the investigation into Hillier-Penney’s death. It said he was going to be arrested for her murder.

This, he said, upset him.

“I knew in my heart I had nothing to do with it,” Penney told the court.

The document was to make him feel guilty when he wasn’t, he said.

Penney said UC Rudy continued to put him off when he tried to speak, and he’d have to keep quiet and listen to something else he had to say.

Penney feared he was going to be arrested for something he didn’t do.

UC Rudy tells him he’s got the resources to deal with it.

“He was basically telling me that he could make this situation go away,” Penney testified.

He also told Penney that if he had the resources to deal with it himself, then he should go and do that.

Penney told him he wanted UC Rudy to take care of the problem. He told the court he didn’t know what else to tell him and, after years of being accused by the St. Anthony community, he was at the end of his rope.

Penney said UC Rudy continued to pressure him.

“He didn’t want to hear that I was innocent at all,” he added.

Penney said he felt fear.

“I was basically forced into whatever they wanted me to say,” he said.

He said he had to make up a story that UC Rudy was going to believe.

He said he didn’t know what to do and was thinking about how to make up a story that could sound like it could be true.

Penney will be back on the stand to testify more about his interview with Mr. Big when the trial resumes on Tuesday, May 12.

SOURCE: saltwire