'What would you do?' Closing arguments clash over motive in Midland murder trial
Warning: Details in this article may be disturbing or triggering to some readers.
The Crown told the jury in its closing arguments Rick Patrick intended to kill his tenant Chris Forrester on the night of Dec. 16, 2021, and must be found guilty of second-degree murder, while the defence claimed self-defence, saying fear caused the fatal encounter.
Crown Attorney Dennis Chronopoulos said Patrick “snapped” and took out his frustration with Forrester “by putting a knife in his chest” following a year of animosity and growing anger while trying to evict Forrester from a trailer he was renting from Patrick in Midland.
The Crown said Patrick was fed up and when Forrester approached him on his driveway that night Patrick stabbed a throwing knife into the 36-year-old’s chest.
Chronopoulos called Patrick’s testimony “unreliable” and accused him of evading answers.
In contrast, defence lawyer Alison Craig told the jury Patrick should be acquitted, saying he was terrified of Forrester and feared for his life.
The court heard Forrester struggled with his mental health and had a warrant out for his arrest for causing damage to Patrick’s property, including his car’s tire and a window at his home.
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The defence then played the frantic 911 call Patrick made moments after he stabbed Forrester, pleading for help.
Craig describing the fear and trauma in Patrick’s voice, telling the jury, “that is extremely powerful evidence of innocence.”
She argued Forrester showed up unannounced wearing combat gloves that a paramedics said looked like brass knuckles possibly armed with wire cutters, stating, “He was clearly not there to talk.”
The defence asked the members of the jury to “put yourselves in Mr. Patrick’s shoes. What would you do?”
The jury is scheduled to begin deliberating as early as Thursday.
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