Given Xhevahir Myftari has admitted to stabbing Julia Vlashi to death, Tuesday’s closing arguments at his trial focused more on his mental state at the time of the attack.
Myftari, 38, has pleaded not criminally responsible to second-degree murder in connection with the August 2012 death of his sister-in law.
At the time of the killing, they were sharing a house in Rockwood together.
Court has heard that Myftari was angered by Vlashi, a nurse, reminding him to take his medication for a schizophrenic disorder and wanting his dosages increased.
Tuesday, defence lawyer Charn Gill told jurors Myftari may have been off his medication for some time prior to the attack.
“It’s possible he was taking mints (and) not his medication,” Gill said.
Gill also questioned why, if Myftari were thinking clearly, he chose to attack his 44-year-old sister-in-law as she was talking to family members on Skype.
The evidence, he said, painted “a clear picture that (Myftari is) not criminally responsible.”
Crown prosecutor Judith MacDonald’s address focused on evidence from forensic psychiatrists who spoke with Myftari in the days after Vlashi’s death, and never heard Myftari mention the voices and hallucinations that he claims convinced him to attack her.
“He intended to kill her or cause grievous harm,” she said.
After the attack, Myftari left Rockwood with Vlashi’s vehicle and purse, as well as his passport.
He was arrested in Peel Region the following day.
MacDonald termed his decision to leave “clear-headed and self-interested.”
The case is expected to be handed to jurors later this week.
