The long awaited star witness has begun testifying at the Air India trial in Vancouver. The witness is a former employee and close personal friend of accused bomber Ripudaman Singh Malik.

Malik and co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri are on trial for murder in connection with the 1985 Air India bombing that killed 329 people, as well as a bombing at Japan's Narita airport on the same day that killed two baggage handlers.

The witness - described as the prosecution's most important of this trial - looked directly at Malik as she was led into the courtroom. She smiled and bowed to him when asked to identify him.

Ripudaman Singh Malik (file photo)

The woman cannot be named by court order.

She is expected to give the most damning evidence against Malik.

The woman has not seen Malik for nearly six years and told the court she misses him. She said, "We worked well together, we were very good friends and happy together, we shared a love and friendship that is very hard to find."

The woman also testified it was difficult for her to discuss her relationship with Malik in court because it's personal.

"I could never hate him, never ... I still love him, I still respect him ... I promised him, no matter what, I will always love you ... I'll always be there to help you," she testified.

When asked by the prosecution if she felt testifying against Malik was a betrayal of that promise, she said, "Yes, of course, it's a betrayal."

The witness once worked for Malik. She's expected, during the course of her testimony, to describe how their professional relationship became personal and how she fell in love with him.

The woman is also expected to tell the court that twice Malik confessed his involvement in the 1985 Air India bombing, the worst mass murder in Canadian history.

"I think she'll convict him," said Major Sidhu who lost his sister and her family in the bombing.

Much of Friday's evidence concerned Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only person convicted in connection with the Air India bombing. Reyat has alsways refused to name his co-conspirators.

The witness said Malik supported Reyat's family for years and told her he did so, because Reyat "did a great service for Sikhism."

The witness' testimony will continue on Monday, and many believe it may finally expose, after 18 years, the details of the plot to blow up Air India flight 182, killing 329 people.

The woman is expected to spend several weeks in the witness box.

Lawyers defending the two accused say she's acting out of anger and bitterness against the man who ended their relationship.