Wiebo Ludwig, followed by his wife Mamie, leaves the Edmonton Courthouse Wednesday afternoon March 1, 2000.A Vancouver forensic chemist testified Wednesday that Ludwig had residue on his hands consistant with a commonly used commercial explosive after his arrest on Aug. 24, 1998. After his arrest, Ludwig was asked to rub his hands on several sterile cotton gauze pads. They pointed to types of explosives commonly used in the mining industry, said Lau. Ludwig and Boonstra are on trial for 17 charges related to oilpatch vandalism.
Potassium nitrate is a primary ingredient of fireworks.
Saltpetre, another name for sodium nitrate, is used by both gardeners and cattle producers. In earlier testimony, court heard Boonstra was arrested at a roadblock outside of Grande Prairie. He was really shaky. He was cold and he was wet from just above the knees down like he'd been standing in water. Boonstra told Huntley his name was Paul and that he had a fight with his wife and had been trying to get to Grande Cache, Alta., to visit a friend to cool off.