FILE PHOTO - A police vehicle is pictured in this August 27, 2016, photo near a dumpster at the Super 8 motel in Aberdeen.

(STAFF / iNFOnews.ca)

The woman who spent the evening with Debra Novacluse before her body was found the next day in a sleeping bag underneath a blood-stained motel mattress testified today in Kamloops Supreme Court.

Jessica Roth was invited by David Albert Miller, the man accused of killing Novacluse, on August, 26, 2017 to come back to his motel room to party, court heard today, Jan. 30.

In her testimony, Roth says Miller struck her someone who had a lot of money and was trying to round people up at the casino to go back to his motel room.

“He just wanted to party,” Roth said, adding at one point throughout the night Miller threw $100 on the ground which she picked up.

READ MORE: Police officer found 'heavily injured' body, court hears in Kamloops murder trial

Roth asked Miller if she could invite her male friend to which Miller agreed. When Roth entered Miller’s suite around midnight, she saw a woman lying on a bed under the covers and noticed a clothing dresser with booze on it.

This woman introduced herself to Roth as Debbie. Roth noticed the woman appeared to have been crying and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from her.

Roth said she spent a total of five hours in the motel room. She noted there were times Novacluse appeared to be fine but other times she appeared upset. She also testified she sensed some sort of “abuse” going on between Miller and Novacluse.

Roth said she invited Novacluse to leave with her.

“We were telling her to come with us but she wouldn’t, she was too scared,” Roth said.

Miller is charged with the first-degree murder of Novacluse.

Miller’s trial began Jan. 13 after he pleaded not guilty and is expected to last five weeks in total.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Karen Edwards or call (250) 819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2020