“Mr. Big” evidence deemed admissible against accused Castor family killers

Evidence gathered as part of a “Mr. Big” sting operation on two central Alberta man accused of killing three people has been deemed admissible.

Justice Eric Macklin announced his decision Monday afternoon at the trial for Jason Klaus and Joshua Frank. The two are charged with three counts of first degree murder in the Dec. 8, 2013 deaths of Gordon, Sandra and Monica Klaus, Jason’s parents and sister, at their Castor area farm.

The evidence collected by RCMP undercover operators was subject to a voir dire, a trial within a trial, to determine its admissibility.

Over the course of four months from April – July 2014 police lured Klaus into what he thought was a crime organization. By involving him in their criminal activities, they built up Klaus’s trust to the point where he told them about how he and Frank conspired to kill his family.

In recorded conversations played in court last week, Klaus and Frank each gave similar accounts of what took place to undercover officers.

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Klaus was scheduled to testify in his own defence Monday afternoon. However, after the voir dire ruling came down his lawyer, Allan Fay, asked for time to speak with his client and proceedings were adjourned for the day. Klaus will likely take the stand when the trial resumes on Tuesday.

Frank is also expected to testify this week.