The childhood friend of Tom Barrett had to take a 20 minute break from the witness stand on the third day of Barrett’s murder trial.
“I can’t do this,” said John Wayne Hynes, who is convicted with accessory after the fact in the death of Brett MacKinnon.
Hynes returned to the witness stand a short time later, and testified that MacKinnon was present during a night of partying at Barrett's home in New Aberdeen, N.S.
Hynes says he left to get baking soda to smoke cocaine, but when he returned, the doors were locked.
Hynes told the court Barrett asked him to carry a rolled up piece of carpet out to a car later that week. Hynes said it was heavy and that he thought there was a body inside.
Hynes says the pair put the carpet in the trunk of the car before heading to the Cameron Bowl ball field and disposing it along a pathway.
On the way home, Hynes testified Barrett told him, "There's nothing that can tie me to this now."
Hynes also noted Barrett tossed what looked like an identification card out the window near the ball fields in Tablehead, N.S.
Hynes has a long list of criminal charges, and pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact in MacKinnon's murder. Defence lawyer Brian Bailey said most crimes involved theft and dishonesty. Hynes admitted to never meeting Mackinnon, but knew who she was.
Hynes said Barrett threatened him with a gun for telling people about transporting the carpet.
MacKinnon's body was found near a dump site in Glace Bay in 2008, two years after she disappeared.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore
