(Posted 7:30 p.m., Oct. 21)
Trial for man charged in 2007 shooting death of Cst. Chris Worden begins in Edmonton
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

The trial for the man charged in the 2007 shooting death of Cst. Chris Worden began in Edmonton on Wednesday with opening statements from both sides. File photo

The man on trial for the 2007 shooting death of RCMP officer and former Orleans resident Christopher Worden tried to plead guilty to manslaughter in the opening moments of today's court proceedings in Yellowknife only to have his plea rejected by the Crown.

Emrah Bulatci, 25, tried to enter the plea after the judge asked him to plead either guilty or not guilty on the existing charge of first degree murder.

According to media reports out of Edmonton, Bulatci first said that he was not guilty of first degree murder and then in a much quieter voice said that he'd like to plead guilty to manslaughter.

The Crown rejected his plea categorically and the trial continued with opening statements from both the Crown and the Defence..

Cst. Worden was on duty in the Northwest Territories community of Hay River on Oct. 6, 2007 when he responded to a call for assistance at 4:54 a.m. involving a man described by the dispatcher as suicidal.

When Worden arrived at the address, he noticed a man fleeing the low rise apartment building and gave chase. After following the suspect around the side of the building he was shot four times.

Worden, who responded to the call alone, was driving a marked car and was wearing his uniform. When he was found by fellow officers his gun was still in his holster.

During their opening statement, the Crown pointed out to the 12 member jury that by trying to plead guilty to manslaughter, Bulatci has already admitted to shooting Cst. Worden. They intend to prove that Bulatci intended to kill Worden when he shot him four times.

In her opening statement Bulatci's Defence lawyer Laura Stevens said her client was in Hay River to deal drugs and that the gun he used was obtained illegally. He only intended to wound Worden with the first two bullets and that he didi not intend to fire the third and fourth shots.

Bulatci was arrested in Edmonton six days after the shooting following a nation wide manhunt. The trial is expected to last seven weeks.

Worden grew up in Convent Glen with his sister Cathy and brothers Michael and Peter. He graduated from St. Matthew High Scool, where he was a star football player, in 1995 and went on to Wlfrid Laurier University where he was a team captain on the university football team.

After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier in 2000, Worden joined the RCMP. In 2003 he married Jodie who he met while they were both at university. They had a baby girl named Alexis in February 2007, eight months before he was killed.

Worden received a full regimental funeral at the Notre Dame Basilica on Sussex Drive that was attended by more than 2,000 people.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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