Crown delivers closing arguments in manslaughter trial

“Some of the comments made by defence counsel in his address to you, ought not to have been made,” said Jerke. “He must refrain from engaging in inflammatory rhetoric.”

He told them to disregard a statement Dietrich made where he suggested that if Little Light was still here, she might tell them she was acting “crazy” on the day she was killed and that Across the Mountain shouldn’t suffer for what happened. Jerke said it was not evidence in the trial, calling it “inflammatory.”

Next, Jerke said Dietrich’s comments must be ignored as to a suggestion of any potential wrong doing by the Crown in charging Across the Mountain, stating that the Crown has done nothing wrong at all.

Crown Closing

Crown prosecutor Clayton Giles opened his address to the jury by discussing Across the Mountain’s testimony and her claim that she was acting in self-defence when Little Light was killed, calling it “mere fabrication.”

While on the stand, Across the Mountain said Little Light had been aggressive and unlike herself when she picked up a knife and came at her that day. She said they grappled briefly, and that when Little Light stepped back, she noticed blood on her side. Across the Mountain testified that she left in a panic, and that Little Light was still standing there. She added that Little Light never let go of the knife at any point during the struggle.

“Could Candy truly have held that knife when it was plunged into her back twice?” Giles asked. “The number and depth of wounds does not plausibly support self-defence.”

Giles also noted that Across the Mountain first told police that when she last saw Little Light, she was alive and well, and was speaking with a man from her balcony. Upon testifying that Little Light attacked her, she provided two conflicting explanations as to why she didn’t tell the story to police.

First, while being questioned by her lawyer, Across the Mountain said she couldn’t remember the incident at first but watching a video during the trial of herself a Mac’s convenience store that day jogged her memory of the struggle for the knife. Then, during cross examination by the Crown, she said she remembered when talking to the officers but didn’t tell them because she feared they wouldn’t believe her.

“They can’t both be true,” Giles then said to the jury.

“This wasn’t self-defence,” he stated as he came to his conclusion. “There were three stab wounds, two of which are in the back.”

by Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Crown delivers closing arguments in manslaughter trial

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