N.B. woman recalls abduction, escapeLast Updated: Thursday, April 8, 2010 | 6:03 PM AT
A 22-year-old New Brunswick woman testified Thursday about how she was abducted from a pub last fall and abandoned in a gravel pit with a plastic bag taped around her head.
The man said, "Have a nice life," then drove away, she told the court.
The woman, who worked at the pub, testified in provincial court in Hampton during the attempted murder trial of Adrien John Lepage, 55.
Lepage pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to two charges of theft and confinement but not guilty to the charge of attempted murder.
The woman said there were only two customers playing video-lottery terminals on the Monday morning at the end of November when Lepage walked into the Barnwood Pub in Quispamsis, in southern New Brunswick, and ordered a half-rack of ribs and a rye drink.
She said he initially seemed nice as he ordered more drinks and food. But he then approached the bar and told her he had a gun and would blow her head off if she didn't give him the money in the cash register.
Wrapped in duct tape
She said he refused to take the $400 and told her to meet him outside, away from the pub's security cameras. The two left the pub together and she said he forced her onto the floor of his van and wrapped duct tape around her mouth, arms and legs.
He drove the van about 55 kilometres to a gravel pit near Lepreau.
When the van stopped, she said, Lepage put more duct tape across her mouth, eyes, arms and legs. She said he then draped a plastic shopping bag over her head and wound more tape around her head, from her chin to her eyebrows.
She said he dragged her from the van and dropped her on the ground. She was hyperventilating and unable to breathe.
She testified that Lepage then said, "Have a nice life," and drove away.
The woman described how she endured some panicky moments until she found a small opening in the tape to breathe through. She managed to free a hand and removed the bag from her head.
Once she freed herself, the woman walked to Highway 1 and tried to flag down a car. One vehicle stopped and left, then a second vehicle slowed and did not stop. Finally, two drivers pulled over to help her.
Lepage is expected to testify Friday.
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