SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An Edmonton resident told a Yellowknife courtroom on Thursday how he helped Emrah Bulatci hide from police in the days after Bulatci, the man accused of Const. Christopher Worden's murder, fled RCMP in Hay River.

Kelly Paul said he had never met Bulatci before, but decided to help him when he arrived at Paul's house with a mutual friend, Justin Anderson, on Oct. 8, 2007 because he was out of work and needed money.

"He needed help. I needed money," said Paul, adding when he first agreed to help Bulatci he didn't know his name or why he was on the run.

Bulatci is facing a charge of first degree murder in relation to Worden's death. The officer, who was found dead with his weapon still holstered on Oct. 6, 2007, was shot four times. Following the fatal incident, Bulatci led police on a six-day manhunt before being caught and arrested.

Paul said he learned Bulatci's first name about four hours after meeting him. Anderson told him as the three men, and Paul's girlfriend, were on their way to the store to buy Bulatci a phone card.

A few hours later at a hotel, Bulatci told him he shot a cop, Paul said.

Paul, Bulatci and Anderson were in an Edmonton hotel room - under Paul's name but paid for by Bulatci - when "he was telling me his arm was really sore," said Paul.

When Paul asked who caused the dark fingerprint bruises on Bulatci's right bicep, Bulatci told him it was "the cop," he said.

Bulatci told the men he was sitting in the cab when an RCMP officer pulled up beside a cab and asked him to get out, Bulatci said no and the cop tried to pull him out, Paul testified.

"'Then I turned around and shot him twice,'" he said, recounting what he said Bulatci told him.

Paul said Bulatci's hair was dyed black the next morning. Bulatci also wanted Paul to get him to another hotel - he was paying Paul $100 for each hotel he booked.

Paul did, and then went to McDonald's restaurant with his girlfriend and Anderson; Bulatci stayed at the hotel. At the restaurant, Paul saw an Edmonton Journal newspaper with Bulatci's picture, subsequently learning Bulatci's last name and why police were pursuing him, said Paul.

He learned more from Bulatci himself when he returned to the hotel room.

"He said he felt real stupid. I asked why. He said he felt real stupid because he didn't take care of the cab driver," said Paul.

When Paul asked him what he meant he said Bulatci told him: "I feel stupid for not shooting the cab driver because he was the only witness."

Paul said he did not see Bulatci again. Later that night Paul was arrested by police, who thought he was hiding Bulatci.

During defence lawyer Laura Steven's cross-examination, Paul admitted Anderson had told him he was planning to turn on Bulatci because he "had beef" with him and was only helping him to gain his trust.

According to Paul, Anderson asked him to take part in a gang beating on Bulatci - for money - later that evening but Paul testified he said no.

"I told him I didn't want to be a part of it," he said, adding he felt he needed to get out before he got more deeply involved.

On Friday, the eighth day of the trial, Anderson took the stand and testified he organized the beating - in which he and three other men attacked Bulatci in his hotel room. He said the reason for the beating was because he spent three-and-a-half months in jail in Peace River, Alta., blaming Bulatci for it. He also expected Bulatci to pay for his lawyer.

Anderson, now 20, was released from jail Oct. 3, 2007. He told court he is a member of an Edmonton gang dubbed the Kingpin Bloods, and has been trafficking drugs since he was 12.

After the beating, Anderson and his three friends duct-tapped Bulatci's mouth and arms and left him in the hotel's bathroom. Anderson said they then grabbed his bag, containing jewelry, clothes, and about $10,000, and left. The whole incident only lasted a few minutes, he said.

Anderson was arrested in his hotel room by police the same night as Paul. Throughout his testimony Anderson appeared nervous and had to be asked to speak up numerous times, even after the microphone was turned on to assist him.

Crown lawyers expect to finish presenting their case around Nov. 6, after which defence lawyers will begin to call witnesses.