The Crown laid out its case for convicting Hugh McColl of murder on Tuesday, arguing that McColl’s own actions after Kate Reid’s death were motivated by greed, rather than panic.

McColl has admitted to killing Reid, his 51-year-old roommate, on Jan. 2, 2015 by hitting her multiple times with a hammer.

He claims he grabbed the hammer in self-defence, after Reid attacked him with a knife.

In her closing address, Crown prosecutor Sidney McLean agreed that self-defence was at issue – but argued that it was Reid defending herself from McColl, and not the other way around.

“He lied about Reid’s death to everyone, and that includes you,” she said.

McLean reminded jurors of McColl’s actions after Reid’s death, including using her credit card to pay for iPads for himself and his girlfriend, removing items from the apartment, and telling people who knew Reid that she had left for New Brunswick.

She described McColl as “a man with a plan” and “the complete opposite of someone who leaves things to chance,” and said those characteristics came to the fore after Reid’s death.

“His life after he killed Ms. Reid is totally an illusion with miles of lies,” she said.

McColl and Reid lived together in an apartment on Burn Place in Kitchener.

After Reid’s death, McColl wrapped her body in plastic and left it on their balcony for nearly a month. He then threw it to the ground and dragged it to a nearby hedge, where it was discovered after the snow melted.

His lawyer has argued that these actions showed McColl was in “way over his head” and panicking about the situation.

McLean disagreed, saying Tuesday that it – like much of McColl’s testimony – was “mental gymnastics” designed to fit around the known facts of the case.

McColl has already pleaded guilty to indecently interfering with human remains, though he has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

The two sides have disagreed over which of Reid’s injuries were caused by McColl.

McColl claims that he hit Reid in the head with a hammer three times, then stopped. The Crown, citing results of a post-mortem examination, says McColl caused head injuries beyond the three he admits to, as well as a broken arm and a broken wrist.

Justice Gerald Taylor began giving his instructions to the jury Tuesday afternoon.

The jury is expected to begin its deliberations on Wednesday.

With reporting by Nicole Lampa