A jury has started deliberating in the murder trial of Andrew Keene.
The jury in the Keene murder trial was charged by the judge on Monday in a Barrie courtroom. They are now sequestered until they arrive at a decision on whether Keene should be held responsible for the murder of Alexandra Flanagan back in 2007.
Flanagan disappeared in early July with few clues about what happened. Later that year, some of her remains were discovered in Lackies Bush in Barrie.
Another set of remains were found the following February along a walking trail near Johnson’s Beach. A few years later, more remains were discovered in a bush near the OPP station along Rose Street in Barrie.
In 2011, Keene was arrested after the crown says he confessed to undercover police officers.
"I probably would have wrapped something around her neck," Keene unknowingly told police. The undercover police officer asked, "Did you strangle her?" Keene said, “Yeah.”
Keene faces a charge of second-degree murder and a charge of committing an indignity to a human body.
During closing submissions, the defence agreed with the Crown’s position on one of the charges. Keene's defence lawyer said he agreed Keene should be found guilty of causing indignity to human remains.
However, Keene's attorney says there is no way the Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Keene actually committed the murder.
The defence lawyer says Keene's confessions, "Lack corroboration completely." His lawyer also said his client, “Spins tales about what happened."
If the jury buys into the defence attorney's position, they could also find Keene guilty of manslaughter or acquit him on the murder charge.
However, for now it's a waiting game until the jury comes back with a decision.
