ST. JOHN'S, NL - Premier Dwight Ball says he hasn’t been called to testify at the murder trial of Brandon Phillips, but he’d have no problem taking the stand if required.
“There’s no reason for me not to appear,” Ball said outside the House of Assembly Monday when questioned by reporters. “I have nothing to hide in any of this. I’ll continue to support my family and continue to support whatever it takes so that justice is done and justice is preserved,” he said, calling the murder a tragic event.
Phillips is accused of murdering Larry Wellman, 63, during an armed robbery at the Captain’s Quarters hotel in October 2015, and his trial will get underway this week. Ball’s daughter, Jade Ball, was Phillips’ girlfriend at the time of the murder. Phillips had been staying at a residence on Quidi Vidi Road with her when he was arrested.
“We deal with this as people deal with tragic events as they occur,” Ball said. “Many families are touched for very different reasons. So justice will be dealt with here and I certainly support that. And you know so will my daughter and so will her family, as an example.”
Ball said his daughter has moved on with her life, sharing she is a new mother and he is a grandfather.
But for the families at the heart of the case he said: “They can certainly count on me as premier to support all of them in any way that I can.”
