Yellowknife (Apr 23/04) - Following two days of cross examination, a tired-looking and agitated Roger Warren admitted, Wednesday, that he knew the bomb he planted at Giant Mine would be fatal.

"It was a total reckless disregard for human life," Warren said of his decision to set a home-made explosive at Giant during a bitter labour dispute in the fall of 1992. The ensuing blast tore through a man car, killing nine men.

"Who ever was pushing that train was of no consequence," said Warren.

"They were the enemy on the other side."

Warren, who is currently serving a life sentence at a prison in Manitoba, was in Yellowknife to testify in a civil suit launched by the Worker's Compensation Board and the families of the nine men killed in the blast.

The plaintiffs are suing a host of defendants including the territorial government, a security firm and mine owner Royal Oak Ventures for more than $14 million.

Warren's testimony in the case began Monday amid heavy security in a specially- built courtroom on the fifth floor of the YK Centre.

Warren's admission Wednesday contradicted his earlier testimony. He said he didn't consider the consequences of setting the fatal blast on Sept. 18, 1992.

Under heavy cross examination Warren said he knew the bomb -- comprised of a bag of explosive powder and somewhere between 25 and 30 sticks of dynamite -- would kill or severely injure anyone within 75 feet of the blast.

"I knew after (setting the explosive) that it would kill guys. But I didn't give a s--," said a frustrated Warren.

Much of Warren's testimony Wednesday was riddled with contradictions. He also admitted that while his aim wasn't to kill replacement miners, he knew a manned transport car, as opposed to an ore car, would likely be the first vehicle to set off the bomb.

"I didn't even consider that," he said.

Warren completed his testimony Wednesday and was returned to Stoney Mountain Penitentiary to continue serving his life sentence.

The civil trial, now in its eighth month, continues.