By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Defence calls no evidence in Derek Saretzky triple murder trial

Jun 23, 2017 | 10:47 AM

LETHBRIDGE – After 11 days of evidence from the Crown, the defence in the triple homicide case of Derek Saretzky has decided to present none of their own.

“Sir, defence has elected to call no evidence,” stated Patrick Edgerton, after the Crown closed their case Friday morning (June 23).

Outside the courtroom, Edgerton declined to comment to the media, regarding the defence decision.

At the outset of the trial on June 7, Saretzky entered not guilty pleas to three counts of first degree murder, and one count of committing an indignity to a human body. The charges are connected to the murders of 69-year old Hanne Meketech, 27-year old Terry Blanchette and his two-year old daughter, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, in September of 2015 in the Crowsnest Pass.

Evidence from the Crown included two statements Saretzky made to police – one in which he confessed to killing Terry and Hailey, and the other where he admitted to Hanne’s murder – and a re-enactment video in which he took officers to the scene where Hailey’s remains were found, and described how he killed the toddler and then cannibalised her body.

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Following the brief appearance Friday morning, the jury was excused for the weekend, and informed that closing arguments will begin on Monday (June 26).

It’s anticipated that Justice William Tilleman will then give legal instructions to the jury on Tuesday (June 27), after which they will be sequestered until they reach a verdict.