The man at the center of a major Saskatoon murder trial told court this afternoon that Daleen Bosse died in his presence but he did not kill her.
Douglas Hales is on trial for first degree murder in the death of the 25-year-old Onion Lake Cree Nation woman who was last seen in May 2004.
Hales was working as a bouncer at Jax nightclub on May 18, 2004 when he met Bosse.
He said the two partied together after he was done work and ended up driving in her car to a secluded wooded area near Warman.
Hales said Bosse died in his presence from what he thought was alcohol poisoning.
Believing he would be blamed for her death and not wanting to go to jail, he said he then panicked and burned the body.
The trial continues on tomorrow.