Woman tells Winnipeg murder trial drugs blossomed into romance

Perez Cleveland is seen in this undated police handout photo. A Crown prosecutor says a man on trial for first-degree murder maintained control over multiple women he lived with through surveillance, drugs and abuse. Perez Cleveland, 46, has pleaded not guilty in the death of Jennifer Barrett, 42, whose body was found in a barrel behind their Winnipeg home in December 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Winnipeg Police Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*

WINNIPEG — One of five women who lived with a man now accused of first-degree murder testified she met him buying methamphetamine but it soon turned romantic.

Perez Cleveland, who is 46, has pleaded not guilty in the death of Jennifer Barrett, whose body was found in a barrel behind their Winnipeg home in December 2016.

Jessica Reid, who is 36, has told Cleveland’s trial that he got jealous and one night she woke up with him pointing a gun at her.

Court has already heard that Cleveland controlled the women through abuse, drugs and surveillance.

The Crown says he tortured and killed Barrett, who was 42, because he thought she was cheating on him.

Reid was the last woman to join Cleveland and what prosecutors have described as his domestic partners.

She was also the first woman to talk with police.

The Canadian Press