The fate of a man accused of killing a transgender sex-trade worker will soon be in the hands of a jury.
Theodore Herntier, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the September 2004 death of David Boulanger, also known as Divas B, who was found dead and wrapped in plastic near a truck stop close to Portage la Prairie, Man.
Closing arguments were made Tuesday, with defence lawyer Martin Glazer suggesting the Crown had simply not proven its case against his client.
He said the Crown's case was "fiction" and made up of circumstantial evidence, noting that witnesses have testified about seeing Boulanger alive in the month after she was supposedly dead.
Prosecutor Brian Bell told the jury there was only one conclusion and they could "rationally and safely" find Herntier guilty.
The prosecution maintains Herntier picked up Boulanger on a street corner, hit her with a wrench and then killed her in his shop.
They say he dumped the body at a rest stop along the Trans-Canada near Portage la Prairie.
Glazer said there is no evidence pinpointing when Boulanger was killed or even when she vanished.
The trial will re-convene on Thursday morning for the judge to give his final instructions to the jury. It will then be sequestered until a verdict is reached.
(CJOB)
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.