Defence concludes closing summations in Windsor murder trial
The defence has completed its closing summations in an ongoing Windsor murder trial involving the shooting death of 20-year-old Madisen Gingras in April of 2020.
The case, which has been before a jury since February, features three Kitchener men, Tameko Vilneus, 28, Kyle Hanna, 29, and Keermaro Rolle, 26. Each defendant is charged with first-degree and attempted murder in the April 1, 2020, shooting.
Each defendant is represented by a different lawyer and while they’re all facing the same charges, the verdicts in the case could possibly be different for each of them.
The three Kitchener men were drug suppliers to Jacob Reaume, a local dealer of crystal meth and fentanyl. Gingras was dating Reaume when she was fatally shot in the back of the head in Reaume’s vehicle on Northwood Drive in South Windsor.
On Friday, The jury heard closing summations from Frank Retar who is representing Rolle. The day prior, two defence lawyers representing Vilneus and Hanna wrapped up their summations.
In his statements, Retar reminded the jury of its need to judge the case on the strength of the facts.
Picking up where the other defence lawyers left off, Retar called into question the reliability and credibility of the crown’s key witness, Jacob Reaume.
When offering his testimony a number of months ago, Reaume alleged there was a heated interaction at a Huron Church motel, involving him and Gingras and the three accused.
During that interaction, Reaume alleges he was choked, zip-tied and threatened with a gun by the accused in a game of Russian roulette.
He then alleged he and Gingras were directed to go to his car and drive, with Rolle and Vilneus getting into the back seat.
During testimony, Reaume pointed at Rolle as the person who shot Madisen in the back of the head and him in the arm.
But in his summation Friday, Retar told the jury: “Just because they say it happened is not necessarily the way it happened.”
“You have to scrutinize that evidence with caution.”
Retar told the jury to look instead at the physical evidence in the case, pointing to the absence of Rolle and Vilneus’ DNA in the back-seat of the car.
Retar said the science should “leave them with reasonable doubt,” that they should “take comfort in the science.”
Retar’s closing summation lasted the entire day, where he pointed to a number of other inconsistencies between the physical evidence and Reaume’s testimony.
Throughout his remarks, Retar continued to go after Jacob Reaume’s credibility, suggesting he misled police and lied under oath numerous times, calling his evidence “dangerous.”
“He completely controlled and directed the investigation of the Windsor Police,” said Retar. “And in fact, it’s my respectful submission that the evidence of Jacob Reaume was an insult to the fact-finding process.”
The crown will deliver its closing summation on Monday and after that, the jury will receive final instructions from Justice Maria Carrocia and be charged and sequestered until they reach a verdict.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.