Accused told police the last time he saw victim she was ‘having a bath’ — where she was later found dead

Wayne Bell is seated in the corner of a Hamilton police interview room, across from Hamilton police Det. Sgt. Dave Oleniuk.

It's the early morning of Aug. 1, 2016. Bell has been in the room for a number of hours already, under questioning by both Oleniuk and Det. Sgt. Ben Adams.

Bell's shoulders are curled and crunched inwards, at times he holds his face in both hands and occasionally scratches his hair and chin. Two white bed sheets cover his legs and he's dressed in blue.

Oleniuk presses Bell on why he was found with Marilyn Mitton's birth certificate, health card and library card the day prior.

Mitton was found dead, face down in a bleach- and water-filled bathtub with stab wounds to her torso on July 31. The pair both resided in their own apartments at 200 Jackson St. W. in Hamilton.

Bell is now on trial for first-degree murder in her death and accused of setting her apartment on fire to cover up evidence. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts.

A more-than-two-hour police interview, which was recorded the day after the fire, was played for a 14-member jury on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Crown wrapped up its case. The trial began on Oct. 27.

She gave that to me ... days ago," Bell said in the recording.

Speaking to Oleniuk, Bell said Mitton had given him the bank cards as well as her library card to go down to the library and make sure there were no unpaid fines on her account.

He said Mitton also believed there were movies taken out in her name and that she wanted him to check after a note that was left on her door.

But Bell claimed he didn't know the PIN of her card - Mitton didn't trust me with her bank card," he said.

Then how were you going to pay for her videos ... with the bank card?" asked Oleniuk. It's just a piece of plastic if you don't have the PIN number."

Oleniuk asked Bell why he'd even take the bank card if he didn't know the PIN and why it was, along with an ATM receipt for $80, found in his pocket.

If I'm doing something wrong, that's a pretty f---ing stupid place to leave it," said Bell.

This is about the truth," said Oleniuk.

Bell begins to mutter under his breath, calling himself the prime suspect" in Mitton's death. He said a man named Robert hated her," while other people allegedly wanted to beat the living crap out of her."

But, it's all me," said a sarcastic Bell.

Oleniuk then asks Bell where Mitton was in her apartment the last time he saw her after he'd left when she was bitching at him." The 66-year-old, who had been in a relationship with Bell, had been dead a couple of days in the same spot," said Oleniuk.

Bell goes back and forth with Oleniuk, asking where Mitton was found and saying he had no idea," when the question was turned back on him by Oleniuk.

Bell continues to pose the question but gets no answer from Oleniuk, who was insisting Bell had been in the apartment on Saturday night as well as Sunday - the day of the fire.

Bell then breaks, admitting he was in the apartment but did not f---ing go and do everything you're saying I'm doing."

Oleniuk asks the question of where Mitton was one last time. Bell said she was in the bathroom.

The detective leaves the room and the door shuts behind him.

She was in the bathroom having a f---ing bath, what the f--- do I know?" said an exasperated Bell to the now-empty room. Charge me for f---ing murder."

The trial is set to continue Friday.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com