Dana Arnold's time as a witness ended where it began - with her answering a question about perjury.

The first question in defence attorney Joe Wilkinson's cross-examination of Arnold was about statements she made on the stand during a bail hearing in 2004.

The hearing was held after she called police on her ex-husband Michael Durant, who is standing trial in Kitchener on first-degree murder charges.

Assistant Crown attorney Andrew Sabbadini returned to the perjury question as he spent Wednesday morning working to shore up Arnold's testimony by fleshing out details, in this case of the unrelated bail hearing. Durant, 45, of Niagara Falls, was charged and eventually pleaded guilty to mischief and uttering threats charges.

Arnold's credibility is an issue at the murder trial because she is the only witness with what the Crown claims is direct evidence of the crime. She also received immunity to testify against Durant and told the court she repeatedly lied to police during their investigation into the victim's death. She claimed it was part of a scheme to direct police away from Durant.

Police laid the mischief and threat charges against Durant in 2004 before he was a murder suspect.

"You were asked if you were afraid of Michael," Sabbadini said. "What was your answer?"

"No," Arnold said.

"You were asked if you had called the police before on Michael. What was your answer?"

"No," Arnold said.

"Were they lies?" Sabbadini asked.

"Yes," Arnold said.

Durant was charged after leaving a three-word message on her cellphone that said, "You are dead," after an argument. He also smashed the windows, headlights and tail lights of a car parked in her driveway.

Arnold told the court Wednesday she only called police to "diffuse" the situation and didn't want him see him get arrested, and that was why she lied on the stand.

Durant is on trial for killing a Niagara Falls woman in 2003.

The victim's name, as well as any information that might identify her, is now protected by a publication ban issued by Superior Court Justice Gerald Taylor, who is conducting the trial without a jury.

Taylor granted Durant a change of venue because of publicity surrounding the crime and trial.

Wednesday's testimony marked almost two weeks since Arnold first took the stand.

Sabbadini spent three days leading Arnold through her evidence in his examination in chief. Wilkinson then took over with his cross-examination.

Sabbadini's re-examination gave Arnold a chance to explain in more depth some of her testimony, which Wilkinson attacked in cross-examination.

The trial began Jan. 20. The first week consisted of police forensic evidence.

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A jury convicted Durant in 2012, but the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the verdict last February. The appellate court ruled the trial judge erred in allowing the Crown to combine this alleged offence with another in the same trial.

The judge should also have allowed the jury the option of finding Durant guilty of a lesser offence, manslaughter, the Court of Appeals ruled.

Arnold previously told court she found her husband with his arms and hands covered in blood and a severely injured or dead victim in the garage at the couple's Niagara Falls home. She was returning from work at a long-term care home.

Arnold said Durant told her he hit the victim with a hammer after she tried to rob him.

Arnold said Durant told her to back her car up into the garage. Once inside, Durant loaded the victim into the trunk on a blanket.

Arnold said Durant made her drive to a rural area on Darby Road near the boundary of Welland and Niagara Falls with the victim in the trunk.

She said Durant pulled over and left the victim in grass and weeds off the road.

After Arnold left the stand, Wilkinson and Sabbadini argued some of the merits of Wilkinson's application to present alternative suspects in the victim's murder.

The trial continues Thursday.

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