A maintenance worker recalls the day he and his co-worker discovered the remains of 77-year-old Alex Semenovich in an incinerator. The testimony was heard during the murder trial for 74-year-old Anne Semenovich who is accused of killing her husband of 50 years.
The 74-year-old woman is charged with first-degree murder and interfering with human remains.
Back in April of 2008, her 77-year-old husband's body was found inside an incinerator by maintenance worker, Vic Small with CJS Combustion Products.
Small told the court he had a conversation with the accused during an initial consultation in the fall of 2007 when Semenovich said she needed the incinerator fixed after buying it at a scrap yard.
"She shows me the unit itself and I say 'what would you want an incinerator like this on an acreage for?' It doesn't make sense. And she said 'I'd like to burn my husband in there.'"
Then months later, Small said he had been called to the woman's property to inspect why the incinerator wasn't working.
He went on to tell the court that when he and his co-worker Derek Lester opened the door of the incinerator, they thought there was a pig stuffed inside.
"He [Derek] said 'oh my God those aren't pigs' feet they're human,'" said Small.
"I just said 'drop everything and let's get out of here'...I was thinking we could be next. Just dropped everything and got out of there."
"We phoned the RCMP in Stony Plain right away," he added.
Semenovich's then 49-year-old daughter and then 22-year-old grandson were charged with accessory after the fact, and interference with human remains.
In an opening address Monday morning, Crown prosecutor Karen Thorsrud alleges that Anne went outside and, "Climbed on a ledge, opened the window, pointed the shotgun at her sleeping husband, pulled the trigger and killed him."
"This was a planned and deliberate murder," added the Crown.
The Crown also alleges Semenovich dragged her husband's body to the incinerator with the help of her daughter and grandson.
Semenovich has denied shooting her husband and claims she doesn't know how he died. But the 74-year-old has admitted to dragging her husband's body to the incinerator.
Monday's testimony follows a week-long fitness trial where the jury found Semenovich mentally fit to stand trial.
During that proceeding, Semenovich described what she called a horrible marriage filled with physical abuse.
Semenovich's trial is expected to last two weeks. Her grandson and daughter are expected to take the stand during the trial.
With files from Scott Roberts
