By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Accused’s police statement played as manslaughter trial continues

May 22, 2018 | 4:57 PM

LETHBRIDGE – What happened on Feb. 7, 2016, and why was there blood on the clothing of Jillian Across the Mountain?

Those questions – among others – were asked repeatedly during a recorded police interview with Across the Mountain, which was played for the jury in her manslaughter trial Tuesday, May 22.

She’s accused in the death of Frances “Candy” Little Light, who was killed in her apartment sometime after police responded to a disturbance at the unit. Police testified that Little Light appeared to be very intoxicated and was belligerent that morning, while Across the Mountain seemed sober and was very cooperative. Later that day, officers were called back to the apartment, where they found Little Light dead.

Several days later, Across the Mountain attended the Lethbridge Police Service headquarters, where she was taken into custody and interviewed.

As part of the interview, Cst. Liam Breedon asked Across the Mountain about the following morning after Little Light was killed. He told her that police had spoken to the family member she went to stay with, who said Across the Mountain had washed her shirt and pants, and that she saw blood on them. He added that they also recovered her boots at the family member’s home, and that they, too, had blood on them. When she was asked about cleaning the clothes, Across the Mountain replied, “No I didn’t, she did.” She later said, “I didn’t even know there was blood,” and accused her family member of lying.

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From that point on, her answers alternated between saying she couldn’t remember anything and that her lawyer told her not to talk, eventually wrapping herself in a blanket and turning to face the wall, appearing to cry at times.

Earlier in the interview, Across the Mountain said she had been staying with Little Light in her west side apartment, and on the evening before Little Light’s death, others had come over and they were drinking. She said she had been told by several doctors that she shouldn’t be drinking but consumed alcohol anyways, adding that Little Light poured some into her tea without telling her.

When asked by Breedon if Little Light was jealous of Across the Mountain and another individual, she replied that she wasn’t aware of such an issue.

The following morning, Across the Mountain said she went across the street to the Mac’s convenience store parking lot to search for cigarette butts and pan handle. She said she then went straight to a family member’s home on the west side, and when Breedon asked if she returned to Little Light’s apartment, she replied, “Not that I remember.”

Across the Mountain was then shown security photos from the Mac’s store, which showed her inside the building and carrying a bag that contained all of her belongings around 10:15 a.m. She was told that a staff member reported that she had asked to use the phone and made a call.

Breedon also informed Across the Mountain that they spoke with her sister, who provided them a voicemail she received from Little Light’s phone that afternoon at 1:25 p.m. He said that she was crying and asking for help in the message.

Based on those two times, and the family member noting that Across the Mountain arrived at their home between 2 and 3 p.m., Breedon suggested that she had gone back to the apartment – but again, she said she couldn’t remember.

The trial is scheduled to run for three weeks and conclude on June 1.