Fredericton broadcaster Dennis Melanson told a corporate investigator that he was looking at child pornography online for research for a show, Melanson's trial was told.

Gary Chaters, head of corporate investigations at Rogers Television, said Friday he questioned Melanson about his computer activities at Rogers in May 2005, hours after the TV talk-show host of Melanson Live was first interviewed by police.

Melanson admitted to looking at child pornography, but said he was doing research and didn't realize it was against the law to just look at such pornography, said Chaters, the key witness for the Crown.

He told the investigator he dropped the idea for the show around February that year.

Chaters was on the stand at the end of three days of testimony.

Melanson, 49, was charged two years ago with accessing child pornography between Jan. 1 and May 10, 2005.

The Crown wrapped up its case Friday in provincial court. The trial continues Sept. 11 with the defence scheduled to call its first witness.

Outside court Friday, Melanson's lawyer, Howard Peters, said it's too soon to say what the defence has planned for the Sept. 11 continuation.

"Make a determination when we come back Sept. 11, whether we will rest on the point the Crown failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, or whether Mr. Melanson or others will take the stand in defence of the charge."

Peters also left it open as to whether a charter argument on freedom of the press would be pursued.