The jury began its deliberations Thursday afternoon at the Moncton courthouse in the second-degree murder trial of Riley Phillips.
Members will have to decide the fate of this young man accused of killing Joedin Leger in April 2022 in a residential area of Moncton.
On Thursday, Judge Robert Dysart read his instructions to the jurors for a few hours. He explained that they must evaluate all the evidence and keep an open mind about what they have seen and heard over the past seven weeks in the Court of King’s Bench.
The judge explained to the jurors that they must choose one of three verdicts. They can declare Riley Phillips guilty of second degree murder. They can find him guilty of manslaughter, a reduced charge. Or they can find him not guilty.
The jury began its deliberations shortly after 4 p.m.
A theft gone wrong, according to the Crown
Over the past seven weeks, the Crown has presented witnesses and evidence to support the theory that Riley Phillips committed this murder during a break-in attempt gone wrong.
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It was with this .38 caliber revolver that Riley Phillips shot Joedin Leger.
Photo : Shane Magee / CBC
The prosecutor Stephen Holt argued that the accused and five other young men showed up at the home of Joedin Leger and his girlfriend, on Logan Lane in Moncton, shortly after 6 a.m. on April 25, 2022, in order to steal money and drugs .
According to the Crown’s key witness – an accomplice who has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Joedin Leger – said a loaded revolver was given to Riley Phillips shortly before arriving in the victim’s neighborhood.
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This photo of Riley Phillips was submitted as evidence by the Crown during their trial. He testified that this weapon was obsolete, that it belonged to his stepfather and that the photo was taken when he was 15 years old.
Photo: RCMP / Court of King’s Bench
He claimed that Riley Phillips showed up at the door of Joedin Leger’s residence dressed in dark clothing and with a motorcycle helmet on his head. He said he heard a noise like a door being kicked in, followed by gunshots.
him, Riley Phillips and two other members of the group then ran towards their vehicle and fled. According to the witness, Riley Phillips showed him a wound on his hand and said he had just been shot.
He said: “He got me fucking shot at. It’s OK, I shot him four times.”
affirmed this witness, whose identity is subject to a publication ban since he was a minor at the time.
A case of self-defense, according to the accused’s lawyer
In recent weeks, the defense attorney has tried to convince jurors that is not what happened. Brian Munro argued that Riley Phillips did not intend to kill Joedin Léger and that he shot him in self-defense.
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It was in this residence on Logan Lane in Moncton that Joedin Leger was shot and killed.
Photo: - / Pascal Raiche-Nogue
During his testimony, Riley Phillips said he went to the victim’s house to talk with him and to resolve a matter of a smashed car window. He categorically denied that he and the five other young members of his group wanted to commit a break-in.
The accused said Joedin Leger shot him first. According to him, it was only then that he took out the gun that was behind his back and fired. He denied that he showed up at the door with the gun in his hand.
During his final argument, Brian Munro argued that jurors should acquit Riley Phillips.
