Justin Campbell Admits to Choking Grandmother; Trial Nears End

UPDATE: In a shocking revelation during his trial, Justin Paul Campbell confessed to police that he choked his grandmother, Eva Banfield, leading to her death. The disturbing details were revealed in a video played for the jury on October 30, 2023, at the Corner Brook Supreme Court.

The confession occurred in an RCMP interview room in Deer Lake on September 8, 2023, just one day after Campbell’s arrest for first-degree murder and theft over $5,000. Campbell, visibly emotional, described how he attacked Banfield while she washed dishes following a shared roast dinner. “I choked her,” he told the interviewing officer, Cpl. Nichole Park. He revealed he used a choke hold and wrapped her head in Saran wrap, admitting, “It took a while for her to go.”

The confession was heart-wrenching, with Campbell explaining that his drug addiction drove him to murder. He expressed a desperate need for money to buy crack cocaine, knowing Banfield had access to a $9,000 line of credit. “That’s how powerful the drug is, that’s my nan,” he said during the questioning.

Witnesses in the trial included friends and an undercover officer, all of whom testified to Campbell’s admissions of guilt. The undercover officer, who posed as a fellow inmate, reported Campbell’s confession in prison, while friends Justin Young and Holly Rubia recounted a night of partying with Campbell just before he disclosed the murder. They reported him to the RCMP after he expressed remorse.

Emotional scenes unfolded in the courtroom as jurors watched the confession video, with many visibly moved. The Crown’s evidence included text messages between Campbell and Banfield and bank statements showing several transactions leading to his access of her funds. On the final day of testimony, Mildred Day, a friend of Banfield’s, testified that Campbell’s claims about Banfield visiting her were false, further undermining Campbell’s defense.

The prosecution has wrapped up its case, having called nearly twenty witnesses, while the defense has not presented any evidence. The jury, consisting of eight men and six women, will return for deliberation instructions on Friday, November 3, 2023.

As the trial approaches its conclusion, the community grapples with the shocking implications of the alleged murder of a beloved 69-year-old woman. The Deer Lake mayor has expressed the town’s ongoing shock at the events, highlighting the profound impact on residents.

Stay informed on this developing story as the jury prepares to deliver its verdict, a decision that could bring closure to a tragic chapter for the Banfield family and the Deer Lake community.