Susan Clairmont: Accused murderer denies strangling ‘best friend’ Michel Pilon, talks of ‘thought machine’ while on the stand
The accused killer's testimony took a turn when he got to the part about the thought machine.
George Opassinis explained it is a device at the jail that allows him to communicate with homicide detectives.
It picks up my thought waves," he told the court. We have dialogue all day long. I conversation with them all day long, every day."
Until then, through days sitting quietly in the prisoner's box and hours on the witness stand Wednesday, Opassinis had been met by the steady gaze of his jurors.
But as he described the thought machine, the jurors looked at one another, eyes wide and brows raised above their COVID-19 masks.
You don't think modern technology has the capability to do that?" Opassinis berated assistant Crown attorney Fraser McCracken, who suggested the machine was a delusion. Then you're not an educated man."
By the end of his first day of testimony at his second-degree murder trial, Opassinis was shouting, swearing and repeatedly calling McCracken a liar.
All the while he denied strangling and hog-tying Michel Pilon - his best friend.
Michel, 53, was found dead in the bathroom of his apartment in a supportive living building on Melvin Avenue on Nov. 30, 2018.
Michel weighed 97 pounds, used a wheelchair and was addicted to crystal meth and crack cocaine.
Hallway security video shows for the 24 hours before his body was discovered, Michel was alone in his bachelor unit with Opassinis.
The Crown theory is Michel told Opassinis he could no longer crash at his place and that's why he was killed.
Defence lawyer Barry Fox suggested an alternate suspect - a drug dealer named Marek Dirda - with a debt to collect.
Opassinis said while Dirda was threatening Michel in the bathroom, he had sex, smoked drugs and fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke, Michel was dead.
A heavy man with grey shoulder-length hair in a pony tail and glasses held together with tape, Opassinis, 58, gave the jury a rambling account of his life.
He was born in Greece, came to Canada as a toddler, married and had four sons. He ran a renovation business until a car crash left him with head and spinal cord injuries. Pain meds led to an opioid addiction, and his marriage fell apart.
He has 24 criminal convictions, most for illegal possession of prescription drugs.
Opassinis told the court he and Michel were friends for 26 years. Any time one of them had a home, the other was invited to stay.
This is my best friend in the world."
When Michel moved into the Melvin Avenue apartment, Opassinis came too.
He claimed he cooked, cleaned and did the laundry. He paid for drugs and injected them into his friend.
I don't sell drugs," Opassinis testified. I buy drugs and I give them away. I'm trying to create pleasurable memories."
Security video shows Dirda and Hailey McVicar going into Michel's apartment for 23 minutes at 1:20 a.m. on Nov. 29.
Opassinis said Dirda demanded to talk to Michel in the bathroom and ordered McVicar to occupy" Opassinis. So, according to Opassinis, she had sex with him and gave him drugs.
Your best friend is with a dangerous drug dealer, with his hands around his neck and you accept the (sex)?" the Crown asked.
I didn't hear no gurgling. Nothing that would trigger me to get up and go help him."
Opassinis said he woke hours later to two building staff members doing a routine apartment check. The employees testified earlier a man inside the apartment told them Michel wasn't home.
Opassinis explained to the jury he assumed" Michel was out.
The employees couldn't see into the bathroom, but did note the apartment was in shambles.
That was because Michel was searching for bedbugs, according to Opassinis.
The bed was moved. But Opassinis had a different explanation for that.
When you come in, you shouldn't see the bed as a focal point. You should see the main entertainment area first."
The workers left, Opassinis took more drugs and went back to sleep.
Early on the 30th, he awoke to use the bathroom. It was then, he said, he found Michel's body.
My brain just started working overtime trying to figure out what the hell happened. I knelt beside him and I was talking to him."
When another drug associate pounded on the door, Opassinis let him in. He saw Michel's body and left.
Opassinis knew he'd be arrested for Michel's murder.
I said my goodbye. I cried. I said I'll miss him and I won't be able to come to your funeral."
Susan Clairmont is a Hamilton-based crime, court and social justice columnist at The Spectator. Reach her via email: sclairmont@thespec.com