The last piece of evidence in the trial of Christopher McDonald ahead of closing arguments was presented in a Guelph court on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old is charged with the murder of 29-year-old Corinne Burns, whose body was found in Guelph's Norm Jary Park in May 2008.
The Crown's final evidence though, had nothing to do with Burns' death.
Until now, the jury had not heard about McDonald's guilty plea in connection with an aggravated assault in Barrie.
McDonald was arrested in July 2009 and accused of viciously sexually assaulting a prostitute. He eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the case.
In the Guelph courtroom, a transcript of that guilty plea was read to the jury.
It included a description of what police saw when the reached the yard where the assault took place including McDonald "just standing up near a body that was laying near the bush area at the side of the yard. The male appeared to be pulling up his shorts."
After his arrest the officers noted "McDonald appeared to have blood on his hands and feet as a result of which he was handcuffed behind his back to prevent the destruction of evidence."
Regarding the woman lying near him, police said "Her face, which was significantly swollen, was covered in blood, and she was naked from the waist down, laying on her back with her legs spread open."
The victim was treated in hospital for her injuries.
The transcript from the Barrie courthouse put forward by the Crown was the last piece of evidence to be presented to the jury.
The defence team will not be calling any witnesses and McDonald will not be testifying.
Defence attorney Angela McLeod says "The jury has been attentive, the judge has been responsive to our concerns and the evidence has unfolded as we have expected…We made the decision that there just wasn't a reason for us to provide anything else to the jury."
In all, 28 witnesses took the stand and 65 pieces of evidence were submitted. The jury is expected to begin deliberating after closing statements next week.
