Abad Shire's defence argues 'appalling lifestyle' should not factor in murder trial
Closing arguments were presented in the second-degree murder trial of Abad Shire, accused of the 2019 stabbing death of Ryan Babineau inside his downtown Barrie apartment.
Shire completed his testimony Tuesday, during which the Crown questioned his credibility.
Crown Attorney Michael Flosman accused Shire of lying about when he returned to Barrie after co-accused Cory Greavette was arrested.
"I did not lie to the jury at all," Shire responded.
Greavette was sentenced to nine years minus time served for his role in Babineau's death.
Flosman told the court Babineau's blood was all over Shire's clothing, adding, "There were almost 70 stab wounds."
While Shire pointed the finger at co-accused Greavette for Babineau's death, the Crown told the jury, "Abad Shire, quite literally, had Ryan Babineau's blood on his hands."
Shire's lawyer, Alexandra Mamo, delivered her closing statements, arguing that Shire's testimony proves he did not stab Babineau.
She questioned the credibility of the Crown's main witnesses, painting them as unreliable, inconsistent, and dishonest.
Mamo called the lone Crown witness in the apartment when 30-year-old Babineau was stabbed to death "a dangerous witness," adding, "it's really hard to imagine a less reliable witness."
Mamo also asked the jury to consider Shire's testimony, not his history as a drug dealer.
"This is dangerous," the defence lawyer stated. "This is the way innocent people get found guilty."
She told the jury the case wasn't about his "appalling lifestyle" and implored them to find her client not guilty.
The Crown characterized Shire's version of events as improbable, implausible and impossible and argued that Shire had time to come up with his story since his arrest.
Justice Cary Boswell will conclude his instruction of the jury Wednesday before they begin deliberating.
The allegations against Shire have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
A Nigerian chess champion plays the royal game for 60 hours - a new global chess record
A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.