Crown finishes closing argument at Legebokoff trial

The Crown Prosecution continued his final arguments into the Cody Legebokoff trial, Wednesday.

Lawyer Joseph Temple spoke to the jury on why Legebokoff should be guilty of first degree murder, saying he was solely involved in the murder of four women.

Temple says there were numerous connections between how the women were murdered, how and where their bodies were disposed of, sexual motivation, and Legebokoff taking their cell phones in two cases.

According to Legebokoff’s testimony, three other individuals were responsible for the murder of several of the women he is accused of killing, though he refuses to name them, saying he doesn’t want to go to federal prison as a “rat”.

Temple shot that statement down, noting in another testimony given by Legebokoff, he mentioned another person by full name in connection to the murder of one of the women, asking why he would not reveal his drug dealer’s name, but implicate one of his friends.

He also pointed out several cases where there was no evidence anyone else but Legebokoff was present.

He went on to question why his drug dealer “Mr. X” would kill a sex worker over an unpaid debt, but also have Legebokoff strip her bloody clothes and hide them, when the intent would have been to send a message to others who owed drug debts.

Temple then referenced the Defence’s statements made to the jury Tuesday, saying Loren Leslie battled with depression but her doctor testified that she never attempted suicide and would not likely stab herself in the throat with Legebokoff’s knife. He also noted the doctor’s testimony that if Leslie had overdosed on her anti-depressants, she would become drowsy, not overly excited.

The Defence had hoped that Legebokoff could receive a second degree murder charge instead of a first degree charge, if the jury accepts the claim others are responsible.

The trial resumes Monday, September 8th.