Verdict reached in Barrie murder trial
Warning: Details and images used in this article may be disturbing to some readers.
Abad Shire, the man on trial for the stabbing death of a Barrie man in 2019, has been found guilty of second-degree murder.
A jury of six men and six women handed down their verdict Thursday morning for the death of Ryan Babineau, who died after suffering nearly 70 stab wounds and lacerations.
Following the verdict, eight jury members recommended Shire be ineligible for parole for the maximum of 25 years. The remaining jurors did not make a recommendation to the court.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for next month.
During the three-week trial, court heard Shire and another man, Cory Greavette, went into Babineau's Dunlop Street apartment on the morning of November 16, 2019.
Twelve minutes after arriving, Shire, Greavette, and one other, Tyler Wren, were caught on surveillance video driving away.
Greavette has since pleaded guilty to manslaughter and been sentenced to nine years behind bars, minus time served.
Last week, Shire took the stand in his defence, telling the jury he was in jail for a crime he never committed, pointing the finger at Greavette, saying he attacked Babineau alone.
However, the Crown argued Shire and Greavette stabbed Babineau in the chest, legs, back and face, causing sharp-force injuries to major organs.
Babineau died of significant blood loss, a forensic expert concluded.
The Crown called on a woman who testified she watched Shire, who she knew as Jeremy, stab Babineau in front of a group of people who were in the apartment before threatening to kill them and their families if they spoke of what they saw.
The defence argued the woman's testimony was "dangerous," noting inconsistencies in her story and trying to convince the jury her memory was unreliable.
A forensic scientist who examined the vehicle testified that a mixed blood sample found on the passenger-side door belonged to the victim and Shire.
The court heard police arrested Shire in North Bay days after Babineau died. They said Shire had injuries to his hand and fingers.
A knife found at the scene was sampled for DNA, but the sample collected couldn't be traced back to Shire.
He has been in custody since his arrest.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.