By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Jillian Across the Mountain expected to testify in manslaughter trial

May 25, 2018 | 1:34 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The defence is playing their cards close to the chest in the manslaughter trial of Jillian Across the Mountain.

During a very brief opening statement to the jury on Friday, May 25, defence lawyer Michael Dietrich said they will be calling evidence when the trial resumes on Monday, including testimony from the accused herself.

“You will be hearing from the most important witness in this case, Jillian Across the Mountain,” said Dietrich. “She’s going to tell you what happened in that room at the material time.”

Dietrich said that while he could tell the jury what to expect, he would prefer to let them hear it directly from his client. He did add that they also intend to call a number of civilian witnesses to the stand.

Across the Mountain is accused in the February 2016 stabbing death of Frances “Candy” Little Light.

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The launch of the defence case follows two weeks of evidence from the Crown, in which they outlined their case against Across the Mountain. Both the victim and accused had been living together at the time of the incident.

Little Light was found dead in her apartment on the early evening of Feb. 7, 2016. The medical examiner who conducted the autopsy found that she died from multiple stab wounds, specifically one to her left arm that cut an artery, leading to significant blood loss.

It was also revealed that a knife was found in the entry way of the west side apartment building where Little Light had lived, and that blood on it matched a sample taken from her.

According to an RCMP forensic specialist, the victim’s blood sample also matched blood that police found on a pair of boots, which had been left at the home of Across the Mountain’s cousin. She arrived at her relative’s home asking for somewhere to rest on the same day that Little Light was killed. When she left to attend the police station a few days later, she took a pair of shoes and left behind the boots she arrived in.

Two Lethbridge Police Service officers also testified early in the trial, discussing a complaint they responded to at the apartment building on the morning of the incident. They were informed that Little Light had been pounding on doors in the hallway of the building and yelling for Across the Mountain to come out. Both officers said they found Little Light in her residence, noting that she appeared to be very intoxicated and was belligerent towards them, while Across the Mountain seemed to be sober and cooperative.

Four 911 calls were also played in court, which Little Light made in quick succession after the officers left her home, complaining that they had been harassing her.  

Lacey Hunt, who was friends with Little Light, told the jury that she had visited the apartment later that morning. She said the two women bickered the entire time and that she finally left after at least half an hour, when Across the Mountain began suggesting Hunt and Little Light were involved in a relationship. She stated, “Jillian was always saying that me and Candy were together. She was always jealous.”

The trial is scheduled to run until June 1.