Curtis Bonnell was rushed to the Miramichi Hospital on Wednesday morning. (Jennifer Choi/CBC)

Curtis Bonnell finished testifying at his first-degree murder trial Wednesday afternoon, just hours after he was found lying on the floor of his holding cell and was rushed by ambulance to the Miramichi Hospital.

Bonnell returned to the stand at about 1:30 p.m. for his second day of cross-examination by the Crown.

No details about Bonnell's condition were discussed in court.

But earlier in the day, his defence lawyer, Gilles Lemieux, told CBC News that Bonnell had been complaining of tingling in his arms, numbness in his body and a shortness of breath before he collapsed in his holding cell at the Miramichi courthouse.

Lemieux said Bonnell was conscious but unresponsive when he was found.

Bonnell, 32, of the Esgenoopetitj First Nation, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Hilary Bonnell, his 16-year-old first cousin. He has pleaded not guilty.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Fred Ferguson addressed the jury at about 11:35 a.m., saying that the accused had come down with some "health concerns" at about 9:15 a.m. and was taken to hospital.

The judge apologized for the delay, but explained that it was unavoidable. He said although another witness was present and could testify, the accused must be present for all court proceedings.

He then adjourned court until the afternoon, pending an update on Bonnell's condition.

Peppered with questions by Crown

When Bonnell returned to the stand, Crown prosecutor Bill Richards continued to grill him about Sept. 4, 2009 — the day before Hilary disappeared.

He peppered the accused with questions about where he was at specific times, what he remembered about that night, and when exactly he blacked out.

Richards went over statements Bonnell had made to police, but Bonnell, who appeared defensive and short at times, kept saying he didn't remember saying those things.

At one point, there was an emotional outburst by Hilary's mother, Pam Fillier. She cried out and started sobbing, upset that Bonnell was smiling, she said.

The Crown alleges Bonnell picked up Hilary the day she went missing, as she was walking along Micmac Road in the province's northeastern community after a party.

Bonnell is accused of holding Hilary against her will, sexually assaulting her and killing her.

Earlier this month, the jury watched a police video where Bonnell admitted to RCMP that he had killed Hilary in his backyard after they had sex.

Bonnell told police they had fought because Hilary wanted $100 in exchange for the sex and he refused. He said he covered her mouth to stop her from yelling and before he knew it, she was dead.

Told police what they wanted to hear

Hilary Bonnell disappeared from her northern New Brunswick community in September 2009. (RCMP)

On Monday, Bonnell told the jury he had buried Hilary in the remote wooded area near Tabusintac.

But he said he didn't know what had happened to her.

Bonnell said he woke up in his truck on Sept. 5, 2009, after a night of heavy drinking and doing drugs, to find Hilary's body slumped over in his passenger seat.

On Tuesday, he repeated several times throughout his testimony that he led police to her burial site because he wanted some answers. He also did it because he hurt his family, he said.

Bonnell broke down crying, saying he never murdered Hilary, or had sex with her and had been waiting three long years to tell his story.

Asked by his lawyer about his confession to RCMP, Bonnell said he told them what they wanted to hear; that it was all lies because he felt pressured and just wanted the interrogation to be over.

Bonnell said lead investigator Sgt. Greg Lupson kept hammering him with questions and putting suggestions in his head; bringing up possible situations and going to great lengths to talk about possible sexual activities between him and Hilary.

Bonnell said he got fed up and eventually gave in. He said he put together a story based on what Lupson had said.

The trial started on Sept. 17 and is scheduled to last up to eight weeks. The defence began presenting its case on Oct. 23.