Defence suggests Sheree and Greg Fertuck were in midst of reconciliation before her disappearance

Defence lawyer Morris Bodnar suggested to the court that not only were Sheree Fertuck and ex-husband Greg attempting a reconciliation, but that the two were sleeping together at the family farm near Kenaston before she went missing.

Sixty-seven year-old Greg Fertuck has pleaded not guilty to first degree murder in the death of his ex-wife in December 2015.

Fertuck’s daughter Lanna testified via video at his murder trial at Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on Wednesday. She told court that her parents separated when she was in grade school, mainly because of her father’s chronic drinking, gambling, and fights over money and investments the two shared.

During questioning by the Crown, the 23-year-old woman told the court her father was “drunk more than not,” and that on multiple occasions he had threatened her mother’s life – going so far as to injure her on a family vacation.

Once the couple split, Lanna said she didn’t see her father often, and when she did, he would say “nasty” things and use foul language when referring to his ex-wife.

After her mother disappeared, she told the court she spoke with her father who didn’t seem concerned or worried and told her “if you ever find her, let me know.”

She added that her relationship with her father now is “not great,” and admitted that she and her siblings had all suspected their father “had done something” to their mother.

Last day she saw her mother

Fertuck testified she last saw her mother the day before she went missing. Her mother would often stay at the family farm in the summer time, but that in 2015, it was the first time she had been working so late in the year.

She told the Crown she’d tried calling her mother on the afternoon she disappeared, but that the phone was out of the service area.

The next morning she was up around 6 a.m. and called her grandmother. She then got dressed and went to the farm. She and her grandmother then travelled to the gravel pit together and found her mother’s semi truck. The phone was in the console and a sweater was also inside.

Once the two got back to the farm, they, along with an uncle began calling area farmers to find out if anyone had seen Sheree. The 23-year-old also testified that her mother had employed both her father and her uncle to help with hauling gravel before she disappeared.

Defense suggests parents sleeping together

During cross examination, defensc lawyer Morris Bodnar questioned Lanna about a $2 million gravel hauling contract and who her mother employed, including her ex-husband.

Bodnar also suggested that because Greg Fertuck was having financial difficulties, losing his main source of income would be detrimental.

“No, I don’t believe that,” answered Lanna.

“Your father had everything to lose and nothing to gain?” he asked again.

“I don’t agree with that,” she told the court, adding that her mother’s gravel contract had been secured after she and Greg had already separated.

“Did you know your parents at your grandma’s farm were sleeping together?” Bodnar pressed.

“I don’t know if that was true,” answered Lanna.

At the Crown’s request, pictures of the bedroom where Sheree had been staying at the family farm were shown to the court. Two single beds, one with a pink blanket on it, and a dresser with toiletries made for women were also shown.

The Crown asked whether anything in the room appeared to belong to a man, to which Lanna answered no.

The couple’s other children are expected to testify throughout the day on Thursday.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.