Audio recordings presented at Serge Audette’s manslaughter trial show accused pressed for confession

Audio recordings played in court capture police informant pressing Serge Audette for a confession in the 1996 disappearance of Patricia Ferguson.

The trial of Serge Audette continued this week. He is charged with manslaughter in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Patricia Ferguson.

New audio recordings obtained by Noovo Info show the accused being pressed for a confession. They were presented in court as Audette’s former cellmate — a key witness — took the stand to testify against him.

The informant, who we are calling David because his identity is protected by a publication ban, can be heard speaking with Audette in the newly released audio.

David testified this week that Audette had confided in him while they were in prison together.

He told the court that Audette said he had been with Ferguson the night she disappeared and the evening had gone wrong. He also said that Audette told him there had been drug use exchanged for sexual favours and police “would not find her.”

In the hour and a half of audio presented to the court, Audette never actually confesses to the crimes, even as David, who secretly recorded their conversations, pushes him to do so.

Ferguson’s disappearance was never initially investigated as a murder. The cold case was only reopened after a Noovo Info documentary series raised questions about the original police investigation.

Audette was arrested in 2023 and is now standing trial. Prosecutors say the recordings were submitted as evidence to establish context for David’s testimony.

David, who has a long history of criminal activity, will be cross-examined by the defence on Tuesday.