Day one of what's expected to be a lengthy murder trial began Friday with a recording allegedly describing how a man was beaten to death five years ago inside his own home.

It's August 2009, and a man, who identifies himself as Norm earlier in the recording, is sitting in a car in the parking lot of Bass Pro Sports somewhere between Calgary and Airdrie, Alta.

He believes he's in the middle of a job interview of sorts with a powerful enforcer for a powerful gang.

But the person he's speaking with is not a deadly hitman. In fact, he's not even a criminal.

The person he's speaking with is an undercover police officer ― part of a complicated and lengthy ruse by investigators to lead Norman Larue to believe they are a criminal organization.

Instead of getting a job, Larue is on trial for first-degree murder, charged with the death of 63-year-old Gordon Seybold in March 2008.

Seybold's body was found in the charred remains of his Ibex Valley home after it had burned to the ground.

In the Crown's opening statement Friday, prosecutor Bonnie Macdonald told the jury they would hear proof that Larue and his fiancée, Christina Asp, killed Seybold after breaking into his home, beating him and burning the house down.

Asp has already been convicted for her role in Seybold's death.

On the recording played in court, the undercover officer tells Larue it's important the gang know he's not just a guy who "talks a big game” if he wants to work with them.

Larue says he has killed someone.

"I felt nothing in my heart, nothing in my head,” the 34-year-old says of allegedly taking a life, adding later that he "looked down at the guy and chuckled to myself.”

Larue says he went after Seybold, who had a marijuana grow operation on his property, for money and because Seybold had disrespected Larue's mother-in-law.

"The first thing that jumped in my head was ‘sweet the cash,'” he said.

Larue describes hitting Seybold repeatedly with a bat and slicing his throat before burning the place down.

He says he didn't originally plan to bring Asp along, but he couldn't read a map she had drawn and needed her help to find the property.

Asked if he has any regrets, Larue tells the faux-mobster his one regret is "not meeting people like you when I was younger. I know my life would have taken a different route.”

Asp, as well as members of her family, are scheduled to be among the 50 witnesses called during the trial, Macdonald told the jury in her opening.

She warned them to view her testimony cautiously, pointing out that Asp has told many different stories about what happened the night Seybold died.

A former member of the RCMP is also scheduled to testify.

In his opening, Larue's lawyer, Ray Dieno, added the officers who investigated his client to the list of liars.

Dieno called the RCMP undercover team "trained deceivers” who "bedazzle” and "wine and dine” suspects.

Dieno insists Larue only repeated what Asp told him, as a way of getting close to the gang and protecting his fiancée, who he loved.

"They lied to Mr. Larue. He lied back at them for his own purposes,” Dieno said.

Larue will take the stand to give his side of the story and deny he had any role in Seybold's death, his lawyer said.

While cross-examining the officer who presented the covert recording in court, Dieno questioned why officers did not focus on the marijuana grow operation and a man who had allegedly threatened to kill Seybold if he sold his child any more drugs.

The officer said he believed the man was ruled out because of his age and physical condition.

Investigation notes show the man was 77 years old and injured, the court heard.

Dieno went on to suggest the nearby rest stop area where a bloody bat and weapons were found is a common location for drug-related fights.

This morning, the jury heard from Angelika Lange, Seybold's common law partner for 11 years and long-time friend after that.

She took the jury through a description of the 20-acre property where Seybold lived.

She was scheduled to continue her testimony after lunch.

The trial, which is being heard in front of Justice Scott Brooker, continued today.