Closing arguments began Monday at the Hugh McColl murder trial, with McColl’s lawyer arguing that his client’s killing of Kate Reid was an act of self-defence.
That is the same position the defence has taken since the outset of the trial – that while McColl did kill Reid, it was only after she attacked him with a knife.
Lawyer James Marentette spoke to jurors for two hours, mentioning testimony given by McColl on the stand and arguing that the evidence points to him only attacking Reid to defend himself.
“He doesn’t want to kill her,” he said.
“He doesn’t want to cause her harm. He just doesn’t want her to stab him.”
Reid and McColl lived together in an apartment on Burn Place in Kitchener.
After killing Reid, McColl left her body on his balcony for more than three weeks.
He then thawed it and moved it to ground level, where it was discovered after the snow melted.
Marantette described these events as “actions of a man way over his head,” who was scared by what he had done.
McColl’s lawyer also focused part of his closing argument on Reid herself, who he described as an alcoholic who was taking anti-psychotic drugs.
He reminded jurors of two incidents from the final weeks of her life – a Christmas Day phone call in which she yelled at her daughter, and a Boxing Day situation where she believed someone had stolen money from her.
Jurors have heard that prior to the attack, Reid was demanding that McColl give her rent money, which McColl refused to do.
“Isn’t it possible she could lose it?” Marentette asked.
The Crown will make its closing argument Tuesday, with jurors expected to start their deliberations on Wednesday.
McColl has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, but guilty to indecently interfering with human remains.
