Mitchell Brooks trial hears testimony from police, forensic firearms expert

A photo showing Mitchell Brooks' workshop where, police testified, officers found four more guns. Court exhibit

1 / 1 A photo showing Mitchell Brooks' workshop where, police testified, officers found four more guns. Court exhibit

Several officers who searched Mitchell Brooks' New Lowell woodworking shop testified they found four guns stashed in various locations inside the large building.

Brooks, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of his wife Deena, 50, a lab technician at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.

Emergency crews responded to a 911 call from Brooks on May 24, 2013 who told a call-taker his wife had been shot in the chest as they were "fighting over" the gun.

A 9mm Beretta handgun used in the shooting was found at the scene lying on the foyer floor of the couple's home.

Brooks' trial, now into its second week at the Barrie courthouse, has heard from several OPP officers who testified about finding four other guns.

OPP canine officer Murray DeRuiter told court he located a handgun in a blue plastic bag tucked inside a large planer after removing the access panels to the industrial-sized tool.

DeRuiter also testified he found another handgun in a blue plastic bag concealed in a drum sander.

The officer said both guns were suspended inside the tools by two large magnets.

Two other OPP officers also testified about finding guns in the wood shop.

A black handgun was located in a plastic gun case on a shelf and a brand new 357 Magnum Smith and Wesson was found in a brown case buried under a pile of wood in a gray bin.

"I emptied a bin filled with wood and when I dumped the wood a gun box tumbled out from the bottom," OPP officer Taylor testified.

A forensic firearms expert told the court Tuesday that Deena Brooks was shot at close range.

Grant McGimpsey testified he examined Deena Brooks' clothing, autopsy photos of the bullet wound and conducted an examination and test firings of the Beretta.

"I concluded the muzzle to target surface distance was less than four inches from the deceased," McGimpsey said.