Undercover “Mr. Big” Officer Testifies in Dean Penney Murder Trial

An undercover RCMP officer who played the role of “Mr. Big” has testified at Dean Penney’s first-degree murder trial in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Penney is accused of killing his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney, who disappeared from St. Anthony in 2016. Her body has never been found. Penney was arrested in December 2023 and later charged with first-degree murder.

The court heard that Penney had been involved for years with what he believed was a criminal organization. In reality, it was a police-run undercover operation designed to gather information about Jennifer’s disappearance.

Jurors were shown video of Penney meeting the fake crime boss on a yacht in Vancouver in November 2023. The officer told the court the interview was meant to give Penney a chance to speak about any possible involvement in the case.

The trial also heard from another undercover officer who befriended Penney during the operation. Defence lawyers questioned whether parts of the operation could have created pressure or confusion.

The trial is continuing as Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s family waits for answers nearly a decade after she vanished.