lawyers...they funny. smelly but funny. sure to be a luka magnotta angle at some point if it catches on.
WINNIPEG -- The case of a Winnipeg man accused of murdering and dismembering his roommate is now in the hands of a jury.
Emery McLeod, 40, is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 18, 2012, killing of 42-year-old Darren Monias.
McLeod admits cutting up Monias's body and disposing of the remains around the city but denies intentionally killing him. McLeod claims Monias died accidentally after McLeod put him in a choke hold during a bout of "UFC-style" play-wrestling at their apartment.
Defence lawyer John McAmmond urged jurors to ignore the grisly details surrounding the disposal of Monias's body and focus on the circumstances of the killing.
"He's not on trial for that (dismembering Monias) today, he's on trial for murder," McAmmond said in his closing address to jurors Wednesday morning.
Court heard both McLeod and Monias had been drinking prior to the killing.
McLeod previously testified Monias gasped for air but otherwise appeared fine after McLeod released him from the choke hold. McLeod said he passed out and awoke sometime later to find Monias dead.
McAmmond said McLeod was in a state of panic and "trying to get himself out of a huge jam" when he made the "stupid horrifying decision" to dismember Monias and hide his remains.
Monias's death was no accident, prosecutor Brian Bell told jurors. Monias wrecked McLeod's car, was routinely late with the rent and drank too much, all of which fuelled McLeod's anger, Bell said.
"We say the accused assaulted Monias with the intent to cause bodily harm and didn't care whether Monias died or not," Bell said. "A flash of anger that leads to murder can be very quickly replaced by a lifetime of regret, but that is still murder."
Sun News : Ignore Winnipeg man's dismemberment, focus only on the killing, defence says
WINNIPEG -- The case of a Winnipeg man accused of murdering and dismembering his roommate is now in the hands of a jury.
Emery McLeod, 40, is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 18, 2012, killing of 42-year-old Darren Monias.
McLeod admits cutting up Monias's body and disposing of the remains around the city but denies intentionally killing him. McLeod claims Monias died accidentally after McLeod put him in a choke hold during a bout of "UFC-style" play-wrestling at their apartment.
Defence lawyer John McAmmond urged jurors to ignore the grisly details surrounding the disposal of Monias's body and focus on the circumstances of the killing.
"He's not on trial for that (dismembering Monias) today, he's on trial for murder," McAmmond said in his closing address to jurors Wednesday morning.
Court heard both McLeod and Monias had been drinking prior to the killing.
McLeod previously testified Monias gasped for air but otherwise appeared fine after McLeod released him from the choke hold. McLeod said he passed out and awoke sometime later to find Monias dead.
McAmmond said McLeod was in a state of panic and "trying to get himself out of a huge jam" when he made the "stupid horrifying decision" to dismember Monias and hide his remains.
Monias's death was no accident, prosecutor Brian Bell told jurors. Monias wrecked McLeod's car, was routinely late with the rent and drank too much, all of which fuelled McLeod's anger, Bell said.
"We say the accused assaulted Monias with the intent to cause bodily harm and didn't care whether Monias died or not," Bell said. "A flash of anger that leads to murder can be very quickly replaced by a lifetime of regret, but that is still murder."
Sun News : Ignore Winnipeg man's dismemberment, focus only on the killing, defence says