Jeffrey Salomonie murdered Daisy Curley while committing sexual assault, argues Crown
Crown lawyer Barry McLaren argued Wednesday that Jeffrey Salomonie beat Daisy Curley to death while committing sexual assault, which is grounds for a first-degree murder conviction.
Salomonie has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the May 2009 death of the 33-year-old Iqaluit woman. He tried to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter at the start of his trial in Iqaluit, but Crown prosecutors rejected his plea, instead pushing for a murder conviction.
Both Crown and defence agree Salomonie killed Curley in her own home by hitting her in the face with his fists and striking her with a hockey stick after a night of drinking.
On Tuesday, Salomonie's defence lawyer argued Salomonie was so intoxicated when he beat Curley that he didn't realize it could cause her death. Salomonie also says he can't remember having sex with Curley.
In his closing statement Wednesday, McLaren said Salomonie was lying, and that his memory turns on and off like a "light switch" when recounting the events of the night he killed Curley.
McLaren said it's clear the two had intercourse, as forensic evidence shows it, but it's not clear if the sex was consensual, even though Daisy Curley invited Salomonie over to her house.
"This is 2016, not 1954. 'Let's go to my place' does not equal 'I want to have sex with you,'" said McLaren.
He said Salomonie's attack was "unprovoked," "unresisted" and "targeted" at Curley's head.
Causing someone's death while committing another offence such as sexual assault is legal grounds for a first-degree murder conviction.
He also questioned how intoxicated Salomonie was, saying Salomonie remembers drinking at the bar with her, then at his hotel room, taking a cab to her place, drinking there, kissing her, but then blacks out, only to wake up, finding her severely beaten with blood on the floor.
Yet McLaren pointed out that after waking up from his blackout, Salomonie was cognitive enough to wipe off his shoes and walk back to his hotel room, even remembering the time on the clock.
Justice Neil Sharkey will deliver his verdict on Feb. 22.
