The jury has begun deliberations at the second degree murder trial of 33-year-old Craig Pope.
VOCM’s Renell LeGrow is on jury watch.
(Left: Craig Pope following arrest. Right: Photo of Jonathan Collins. Files presented in court.)
Thirteen jurors sat quietly, focusing solely on the closing submissions delivered to them in court this morning, the last time they will hear from the counsel.
(Crown prosecution at the trial of Craig Pope.)
The Crown says it has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Prosecutor Shawn Patten told the jury all the evidence presented at trial shows Pope was there, that he was in an altercation with the victim—Jonathan Collins—and that he stabbed Collins over $60.
(Defence lawyers at the trial of Craig Pope.)
The defence says they have nothing to prove, and that the Crown has proven nothing. Lawyer Randy Piercey told the jury nobody at trial could say they saw Pope stab Collins, and he says that raises reasonable doubt.
“Nobody witnessed the stabbing. Nobody saw Craig Pope stab that man… (The Crown) was not able to produce one witness to say that.” @VOCMNEWS
— Renell LeGrow VOCM (@R_LeGrowVOCM) June 20, 2019
The jury now must decide Pope’s fate.
The options are guilty of second degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty.
