By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Closing arguments delivered in Day Rider manslaughter case

Mar 31, 2017 | 4:29 PM

FORT MACLEOD – The fate of 30-year old Allen Day Rider now rests in the hands of a provincial court judge, following the close of his week-long manslaughter trial in Fort Macleod.

Day Rider is accused in the death of his common-law spouse, Brittany Medicine Crane, who was found dead in their home in Standoff on May 21, 2015.

After deciding not to call any evidence in the trial, Day Rider’s lawyer, Eleanor Funk, outlined their defence during her closing arguments.

She stated that extensive and severe damage to Medicine Crane’s heart, kidney and liver, along with a fractured rib and numerous injuries – which were attributed to blunt force trauma – were likely the result of a fall.

Funk specifically focused on a period of a little over an hour after the last witnesses saw Medicine Crane alive. She stated that no one knows exactly what happened to her during that time, and that the injuries could have occurred while walking back to her home. She stressed that when she asked the medical examiner, Dr. Jeffery Gofton, if a fall or having someone fall on top of her could have caused the injuries, he admitted it was possible for some of them.

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She also touched on the testimony of a witness who testified that she saw Day Rider put Medicine Crane in a choke-hold and later struggling with her on the floor following a loud bang. Funk said with the exception of the choke-hold, the witness couldn’t actually say that she saw Day Rider initiate any other violence.

In the Crown’s closing, prosecutor Erin Olsen discussed witness testimony, in which several individuals reported seeing the two in conflict in the early morning hours before Medicine Crane’s death, including the choke-hold and wrestling on the floor. She also brought up an incident dating back to 2012, when Day Rider pleaded guilty to assaulting Medicine Crane, calling it, “Part of a pattern of conflict and abuse.”

Olsen went on to discuss a sample of blood taken from under one of Medicine Crane’s finger nails, which matched Day Rider – who had scratches on his face, neck, arm and back when arrested by police.

Staying with the DNA evidence, she noted that when Day Rider was arrested, Medicine Crane’s blood was on one of his pant legs.

After hearing from both sides, Judge Eric Peterson stated that he needed time to consider everything, and reserved his decision until May 3.

Outside the courthouse, members of Medicine Crane’s family said it was a relief to at least have the trial finished, so they would no longer have to relive the moments leading up to her death.

One of her aunts, Judy Medicine Crane, also took a moment to say she hopes this case can at least help other people who are struggling with domestic violence.

“Seek people, seek family. There’s people that love you out there,” she said through tears.

“A person doesn’t hurt you if they love you, doesn’t lay a hand on you if they love you… That’s not love, that’s not love. So, I hope people learn from this trial, and if they’re in that kind of situation, to get out and get help as soon as they can. There [are] people out there that love them and will support them in any way they can.”

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