Accused killer testifies in murder-for-hire case

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She is accused of helping to plot the cold-blooded killing of a man inside his Interlake home.

But Rita Cushnie took the witness stand in her own defence Wednesday, claiming she would have instantly taken a very different type of action if she knew what was about to happen.

“I would have phoned 13 miles south to the (nearest) RCMP,” Cushnie said in response to questioning from her lawyer, Mike Cook.

Cushnie, 59, is on trial for first-degree murder, the most serious charge in the Criminal Code. Justice officials believe she conspired with four other people for the September 2007 slaying of Ivan Radocaj, a former pro wrestler known as the “Croatian Giant.”

She was previously found guilty and given an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years, only to have the verdict overturned on appeal. Cushnie is now insisting she was kept in the dark while those around her planned Radocaj’s demise.

Those include Melody Sanford, the victim’s wife, and Donald Richard — Cushnie’s son — who were both convicted of first-degree murder. Christopher Houle and Daniel Richard — Cushnie’s nephew — pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were given life with no chance of parole for at least 10 years.

Radocaj, 43, was beaten to death only weeks after he married Sanford. He filed documents just weeks before his death in August 2007, claiming Sanford “tricked” him into a fraudulent wedding because she was after his money — including a $49,000 Manitoba Public Insurance settlement relating to a car crash in which he broke his neck. He also expressed fears she and others may try to hurt him.

Cushnie described in court Wednesday how she hosted several “fish fries” at her home in the summer of 2007 where she saw Sanford — a childhood friend of hers — engaged in serious conversations with the others who would ultimately be charged and convicted.

But Cushnie insists she was more focused on serving her guests food and alcohol than what they were talking about. Cook repeatedly asked whether she had any knowledge or insight about Radocaj’s pending demise.

“No, none,” she replied.

She admits allowing Sanford to come and stay at her place when the woman began complaining that Radocaj was being physically and emotionally abusive.

“I got tired of hearing her complaints about John. She said he was jealous of everybody including her cats,” Cushnie testified. “I believe she was abused because I saw marks on her, but not to the extent she was letting on to others.”

Cushnie said Sanford was also claiming Radocaj had abused her daughter from another marriage.

Cushnie admits opening up a bank account under her own name in which Sanford deposited $6,500. the Crown has alleged that forms part of the murder conspiracy. Cushnie insists she was just allowing her friend to hide money from Radocaj.

Cushnie told court she saw her son and Sanford hugging and kissing in the hours after Radocaj had died — but before she claims she knew it had happened.

“Did you think that hug and kiss had a more sinister meaning to it?” asked Cook.

“No,” said Cushnie. She believed the pair had actually started to form a romantic relationship, not that they were celebrating a murder.

Cook also asked why Cushnie repeatedly called her own son a “bad, bad boy” including shortly after the deadly hit took place. Cushnie said that’s always been her nickname for him, based on a song they both like by Nazareth.

And she admits seeing Sanford burning a bag of items that she later learned contained evidence of the murder.

“I thought it was tax papers from her and John,” she said Wednesday.

Following their arrests, Cushnie said Sanford began threatening her as they were both being held in custody in Portage. She described seeing Sanford make throat-slashing and hanging gestures, and asking other inmates if “Anybody wants to make six grand? Take out Cushnie.”

“I’m extremely afraid of her. I’m afraid for my life,” said Cushnie.

Crown attorney Mark Kantor is expected to cross-examine Cushnie on Thursday. Lawyers are then likely to proceed to final arguments.

www.mikeoncrime.com