The Crown's key witness is testifying in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., in a trial prosecutors are calling a case of “murder for lobster," describing how Philip Boudreau was shot and his boat run over before his body was tied to an anchor and sunk.

James Landry, 67, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of Boudreau, a fisherman from Petit-de-Grat.

Landry was a deckhand on board the fishing boat the Twin Maggies when the 43-year-old Boudreau disappeared on June 1, 2013.

Testifying Monday, Craig Landry said he was also a deckhand on the Twin Maggies at the time Boudreau disappeared. He is also a third cousin of the accused.

Craig Landry testified he provided police with two statements and in one of them told officers the Twin Maggies ran into Boudreau's boat in the fog. He admitted in court that story was made up with the help of James Landry.

He was originally charged with second-degree murder, along with James Landry and the captain, Dwayne Samson.

The court has heard that Craig Landry assisted police in a re-enactment and the charges against him were later reduced to accessory after the fact.

Craig Landry told the court that on the morning of June 1, they were setting traps near Mackerel Cove when they saw an object about a quarter-mile away. He said Samson suspected it was Boudreau playing with the traps.

Samson then ordered him to load a shotgun, he said, testifying that the captain said, "He's going to get a scare this time." Craig Landry said he got the gun and loaded it.

Craig Landry said that's when James Landry got the gun and fired it four times. At one point, he recalled, Boudreau said "You broke my leg."

He then testified that the Twin Maggies ran over Boudreau's boat several times.

After the boat had been run over, Craig Landry said, James Landry grabbed the gaff from the boat and hooked Boudreau to haul him out to deeper water.

At that point, he said, James Landry and Samson tied Boudreau to an anchor and dropped him over.

The crew of the Twin Maggies continued on, he said, hauling the rest of their lobster traps before returning to port. Once they returned, they cleaned up the boat and stashed the gun in Samson's house.

Since the trial started earlier this month, the Crown has called 18 witnesses, including police, fishermen and members of Boudreau's family.

The jury has heard about the unsuccessful search for Boudreau and the discovery of what are believed to be his boots and hat. They've also heard about the seizure of a gun from the home of one of the other accused.

Last week, jurors and reporters saw Boudreau's boat that was found, battered and damaged by gunshots.