'Like a house of cards': Defence for accused in murder trial begin closing summations
A Windsor murder trial that started in February and heard from dozens of witnesses is coming to a close as defence lawyers for the accused kicked off their closing summations Thursday.
Tameko Vilneus, 28, Kyle Hanna, 29, and Keermaro Rolle, 26, are each charged with first-degree murder in the April 1, 2020, shooting death of 20-year-old Madisen Gingras.
Each defendant standing trial is represented by a different lawyer and while they’re all facing the same charge of first-degree murder, 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.
Christopher Hicks, the defence for Vilneus was first to offer summations, spending an hour speaking with the jury. He reminded the jury of his client’s presumption of innocence and that the burden of proof is on the Crown to prove his client’s guilt, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hicks told the jury that finding his client guilty of murder would be a difficult task because of a lack of evidence connecting Vilneus to the murder of Madisen Gingras.
He also pointed to the crown’s key witness — Gingras’ boyfriend Reaume — noting his testimony was full of “contradictions, fabrications and inconsistencies” and yet the prosecution is resting its entire case on Reaume’s version of events the night of the murder and the months leading up to that fateful night.
“He was wonderfully unconcerned about lying under oath,” said Hicks, noting Reaume admitted numerous times on the stand for making false statements under oath during the preliminary hearing and to police.
Vilneus, Hicks said, testified before the jury not because he had to or because he had anything to prove.
“Mr. Vilneus’ testimony was truthful, compelling, persuasive and unshaken on cross examination,” said Hicks.
The story presented on the stand by Vilneus about what happened the night of the shooting was very different than the one offered up by Reaume earlier in the trial.
According to an agreed upon statement of facts, Reaume and Gingras were at a Windsor motel with Vilneus, Hanna and Rolle the night of the shooting.
Testimony from Reaume earlier in the trial alleged Keermaro Rolle was the one who shot Gingras, while Vilneus was also in the back seat of the car at the time of the shooting after they left the motel.
Vilneus tells a very different version of events, that neither he nor Rolle ever got into Reaume’s car, that they left the motel room separately.
“This is not a credibility contest between Mr. Reaume or Mr. Vilneus. You can’t choose one over the other,” said Hicks. “There’s no ‘choose this story or that story.’”
“You should put confidence in Vilneus’ story,” he said. “Tameko Vilneus did not shoot anyone.”
Next up was Harpreet Saini, the defence for Kyle Hanna.
He reminded the jury that the evidence from Jacob Reaume’s testimony may feel like a lifetime ago but said it was the pillar that shaped the Crown’s entire case against the three defendants.
“It Is less like a temple built on a solid foundation, more like a house of cards,” said Saini.
He pointed to the vast array of evidence presented from cell phone records to DNA, hearing from pathologists and forensic experts, seeing pictures and videos, calling it all important.
“But In the grand scheme of things, when you think about it, the case rises or falls on the word of Jacob Reaume,” said Saini. “You’re entitled to accept all, some or none of that evidence.”
“Even if you believe that evidence, you must acquit Kyle Hanna.”
On a number of occasions, Saini said it would be “dangerous” to convict Hanna on the strength of Reaume’s evidence, noting he was dishonest with police at the onset and it affected the investigation that followed.
“Mr. Reaume gave an entirely fictional version of events to police,” he said. “Officers were tasked to investigate based on the lies of Mr. Reaume… when Mr. Reaume was sending them off, he was sending them off on a wild goose chase.”
To the charge of first-degree murder, Saini reminded the jury that it must also find there was intent, something he argues will be very difficult.
“That’s where things will get a little more complicated and muddy. I suggest this is where the crown will be unable to prove its case,” said Saini, noting even in Reaume’s version of events, Hanna is not a major player and had no motive to harm Madisen Gingras.
“There is significant reasonable doubt,” he said. “I suggest you should find Mr. Kyle Hanna not-guilty.”
Frank Retar, the lawyer representing Keermaro Rolle, will deliver his closing summations Friday morning.
The crown will then get its final chance to address the jury before it begins deliberations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.