EDMONTON - Most of the calls to the Alberta premier's office are complaints. But this one was different.
The man sounded drunk and very angry. He threatened to harm Premier Ed Stelmach and "kill all his cattle.''
Receptionist Jennifer Dalmer hung up and called police. She recognized the name that appeared on the caller ID function of her switchboard. He had called many times before.
"He was pretty obnoxious and very agitated,'' Dalmer testified on Tuesday at the trial of 57-year-old Ronald Edward Labelle. "Everyone knew his name -- he'd called enough times.''
Labelle sat quietly in the provincial courtroom and showed no emotion as Dalmer said she was so disturbed by the threatening call last Sept. 7 that she left her job at the legislature a week later.
"I have a daughter at home and I don't want her in harm's way.''
Labelle is charged with 31 offences, including three counts of uttering threats and 14 each of possession of unregistered firearms and careless storage of firearms.
At one point during the trial, a police officer wheeled in a plastic cart that held 14 rifles that were then lined up along the courtroom wall.
Const. Richard Abbott testified that he went to Labelle's north Edmonton home about four hours after the threatening call. Labelle greeted him at the front door wearing only a bath robe and showing signs that he was extremely drunk.
The officer concluded from the visible liquor bottles and the smell of the accused that he was dealing with a "seasoned drinker.''
Labelle's first words to police were, "Oh-oh. You guys are here because of the phone call I made,'' Abbott testified. Labelle also told the officer that he was angry that Stelmach wasn't supporting a group of construction workers involved in a bitter labour dispute.
Later testimony from another police officer revealed that Labelle had been employed by Bantrel Constructors, a Calgary-based construction firm.
Abbott said Labelle ignored his advice not to speak and began yelling: "I admit it. I did it. I'll plead guilty. I won't pay a $10,000 lawyer.''
Police later got a search warrant and seized 14 firearms from a basement bedroom that was being used for storage. Abbott told the court that although Labelle had a certificate that allowed him to possess the firearms, none of the guns seized that day was registered as required by law.
During a videotaped interrogation that was played in court Tuesday, Labelle told police he had no recollection of calling the premier's office and that he was not aware that there were firearms in his house.
Police say there was no ammunition in the house and none of the guns was loaded.
On the tape Labelle is heard telling police that he was drinking rye whisky that day on a rare break from work.
"I lost about five hours,'' he said. "It is kind of spooky. I can't honestly remember that.''
Asked if he intended to follow through with the threats, he said, "I have no more intention of doing anyone in this province any harm than I do of hitting myself in the toe with a hammer.''
Under cross-examination, Const. Abbott stated that the receptionist had told him that she thought Labelle was "just a drunk shooting off his mouth.''
Defence lawyer Chris Zilinski also confirmed through his questioning that the call to the premier's office had not been recorded and that parts of what the caller said "made little sense.''
Labelle was released on $1,000 bail about two weeks after he was arrested.
Stelmach, who initially said the threatening call had shaken both him and his family, said Tuesday he was not following the trial and would simply let justice take its course.
The defence was to begin its case on Wednesday.
