Badgerow trial day 3

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A Kitchener jury today saw every item of clothing that was found on Diane Werendowicz when her body was discovered in an east Hamilton ravine in 1981. Even though 35 years have passed since the crime, the evidence has been preserved.

Robert Badgerow’s lawyer, Russell Silverstein, asked a lot about police methodology in 1981. One officer admitted he received evidence with bare hands, unthinkable today. But much of the evidence is still preserved, as the jury saw today after the prosecutor, wearing gloves, demonstrated items one by one. Starting with her green argyll socks. they are still caked in dirt and pierced with burrs.

Werendowicz was wearing her jeans when she was found; unzipped but buttoned at the top. Her underwear was elsewhere in the debris. The prosecutor gently unfolded and held up in court. In her opening remarks a week ago, she told the jury the jeans contained Robert Badgerow’s semen in 1981. The pink sweater had been found on the bank and a dirt-caked blouse was found on Diane Werendowicz, open to reveal the bra that was also shown to the jury.

They also saw the bag that was found nearby, holding the personal effects that would have been common in 1981, like a roll of film and a single dollar bill, along with cosmetics, oversized glasses and a hair curler. That bag matched a bigger one the jury also saw, the bag wrapped around Diane Werendowicz’ neck, the one police say is the murder weapon.

Diane Werendowicz died shortly before her 24th birthday and her parents have since died. But her brother’s son was in court today. He was 10 years old when his aunt died, but he remembers her distinctly and he says her murder is still painful for his family.