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We’ve got a problem. The jury has just been informed there’s an issue with the recording equipment in the courtroom. We’re going to break now and come back at 2 p.m. NT. 

This has happened once before, when the judge said there was too much feedback in the recording. That’s a problem because they have to ensure the recording is clean so transcripts can be made, and the jury can listen back to sections of the trial if they have questions during their deliberations.

We’re headed back into the courtroom now.

Just a note as we head back into the courtroom: connectivity in the room is poor. We’ll do our best to file updates in a timely manner, but there’s little to no cell service in the room once we go inside.

This is Alex Kennedy, a digital reporter based in Corner Brook.

I’ve been covering the trial for the last couple of weeks, and the energy in the courtroom today feels much different.

There’s a sense the stakes are higher; we can feel the pressure in the courtroom.

Cooke is outlining details of notes from Dec. 10, 2017, of a conversation with family friend Morley Hillier, who had information about the investigation. Morley Hillier is a family friend of Jennifer, no relation.

Hillier said he spoke with Dean Penney in the parking lot of a Scotiabank. He said Penney told him that Jennifer would “disappear” and wouldn’t take "everything that he had worked for."

Morley Hillier had previously testified that this happened in St. Anthony. But according to Cooke’s notes, he told him this happened in Clarenville. No further questions from the defence. 

Defence lawyer Mark Gruchy says next up is Dean Penney. But first, they have a small issue to iron out. We’re on break now for 15 minutes.

Gruchy has called his first witness of the morning, RCMP Sgt. David Cooke. He’s currently posted in Bay St. George. He has worked with major crimes and was the primary investigator into Hillier-Penney’s disappearance.

Dean Penney has entered the courtroom. The jury is also making their way in. Two sheriff’s officers are with him. He acknowledges Justice Vikas Khaladkar with a nod, as he has done each morning of the trial.

The courtroom has opened, and we’re about to get underway.

We’re delayed starting this morning — unsure why right now. We’re expecting another witness to begin today, before pivoting to Dean Penney. 

Yesterday, defence lawyer Mark Gruchy told us they expect to wrap their case by the end of Friday. 

There are over 20 people waiting outside the courtroom before it opens for today’s proceedings. Many are Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s family.

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