Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Crown makes final arguments in triple slaying trial

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 01/30/2012 10:56 AM | Last Modified: 01/30/2012 11:34 AM | Updates

A Crown attorney says a jury has the evidence to find two people guilty of killing a couple and their son at a St. Leon farmhouse in 2005. But defence lawyers say a star Crown witness shouldn't be believed.

Crown attorney Brian Bell told a nine-man, three-women Court of Queen's Bench jury that Jerome Labossiere is guilty of first degree murder -- because he planned the triple slaying-- while Michael Hince should be found guilty of committing the killings.

Bell said the jury should believe the testimony of key Crown witness Jeremie Toupin who confessed to his role in the slayings.

Defence counsel Todd Boursier said Toupin's evidence shouldn't be believed because he came up with his story to help himself.

Boursier said a "sweetheart" deal with the Crown in return for his testimony will shave 15 years off Toupin's parole eligibility.

"He said whatever he could to deflect blame on anybody else," the lawyer said. "This may have been a home invasion or a break and enter that went wrong."

Fernand Labossiere, his wife Rita and son Remi were shot and then burned beyond recognition in a house fire in Nov. 2005.