Andrea Giesbrecht trial told accused wanted to self-abort 1997 pregnancy

The Winnipeg woman accused of concealing the remains of six infants in a U-Haul storage locker spoke daily of wanting to abort her pregnancy in 1997, a friend testified as the trial wrapped up until August.

Danielle Devereaux, who met Andrea Giesbrecht in 1996 and worked with her until 2000 at Pioneer Grain, told court on Friday that Giesbrecht was worried when she was pregnant in 1997.

"She said she didn't want to have the baby and talked about plans on how to abort the baby," Devereaux testified.

• 'Something wasn't right,' says U-Haul worker who found infant remains
• Officer testifies about finding toys with body parts
• DNA links 6 infants found in locker to accused
• At least some infants whose remains found in locker likely born alive, court hears

Devereaux said Giesbrecht talked about it every day, saying she wanted to "punch herself in the stomach or use a coat hanger to abort it."

When asked under cross-examination why she didn't tell anyone about Giesbrecht's expressed desire to abort her pregnancy, Devereaux said, "I was 18, 19. I didn't know how to handle it.

"I'd never had a friend that was pregnant and having these thoughts."

Giesbrecht, 42, faces six counts of concealing bodies. The judge-only trial began Monday in provincial court in Winnipeg. Friday is the last day of the trial until it resumes in late August.

Court has heard that the infant remains were discovered on Oct. 20, 2014, inside a storage unit rented by Giesbrecht under her maiden name, Naworynski. The remains were in various states of decomposition, wrapped in kitchen-style garbage bags, placed in duffel bags and stored in large household containers and pails.

• Andrea Giesbrecht to plead guilty to some fraud charges, lawyer says
• Giesbrecht pleads guilty to more fraud charges in Winnipeg
• New details emerge about accused in dead infants case

Experts determined the remains belonged to five boys and one girl, court heard earlier in the trial.

Giesbrecht has two sons. Her first son was born in 1997, and she was pregnant with her second in 2002, court heard earlier in the trial.

The trial has also heard that Giesbrecht had nine abortions and one miscarriage between 1994 and 2011. The number of pregnancy terminations was confirmed by Giesbrecht's lawyer.

Devereaux, who met Giesbrecht after moving to Winnipeg from Newfoundland and Labrador, described Giesbrecht as a "good friend" who often spoke of getting her finances together.

Giesbrecht had a gambling problem, called in sick to work regularly and pawned her engagement ring before her wedding, Devereaux said.

Earlier this year, Giesbrecht pleaded guilty to unrelated fraud charges.

'She did not want me to tell anybody'

On Friday, Devereaux testified that Giesbrecht did not tell her husband, Jeremy Giesbrecht, or her parents or anyone else at work that she was pregnant until after she drove herself to a hospital and gave birth to the child.

The boy was born at 34 weeks and weighed five pounds, according to details from Giesbrecht's medical records that were presented earlier in the trial.

"Everybody was shocked because one day she was at work and the next day she had the baby," Devereaux told court.

"She said if she hadn't told her parents and Jeremy that she had the baby, she would have given the baby up for adoption."

Devereaux testified that she had asked Giesbrecht "how Jeremy did not know she was pregnant if she was having sex and had a baby bump," but Giesbrecht told her he did not notice.

Giesbrecht was a tall, thin girl, but she covered up her pregnancy with sweaters and pants and often wore her coat at work, said Devereaux, who added that a small "baby bump" was visible only if Giesbrecht pulled her clothing tight to her body.

"We talked about it — why she wouldn't open up and tell her parents and Jeremy. She never gave a reason why," Devereaux said.

"It was clear that she did not want me to tell anybody."

Officer who made arrest testifies

This week's hearings concluded with testimony by Winnipeg police Det. Edward Chalmers, who arrested Giesbrecht hours after the remains were discovered.

Chalmers said he and three other officers from the police service's child abuse unit went to Giesbrecht's home at 10:37 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2014.

Jeremy Giesbrecht answered the door and told police that Andrea was downstairs sleeping. She was brought upstairs to the door and arrested.

Andrea Giesbrecht was initially arrested for homicide, but was eventually charged with concealing bodies — the charges she currently faces at trial.

Chalmers told court that he asked Jeremy if he knew his wife had rented a storage locker and when she was pregnant. The officer was not allowed to testify on the answers he received, as doing so would be hearsay.

Chalmers also testified that Jeremy had phoned him twice, wanting to talk, but he wasn't home when the officer went to see him. Officers later found Jeremy with his sister, who refused to give her name and instructed Jeremy not to speak with police, court was told.

Jeremy has been subpoenaed to appear at the trial, but he did not testify on Friday.

The trial resumes on the week of Aug. 29.

Read a recap of our trial blog with updates from the CBC's Caroline Barghout, who covered the trial this week. Warning: Some details may be graphic.