Hall murder trial hears closing arguments

Updated Closing arguments were made today in the first degree murder trial of Jeremy Hall.

Addressing the jury, crown attorney Steve O’Brien suggested this is a case about payback and revenge for bad information. That led accused Jeremy Hall to get involved in a drug rip involving the Hells Angels.

O’Brien recapped testimony from key witness Jason Lusted, who has already pleaded guilty to accessory. He testified he and Hall went to Mason’s apartment where Hall produced a sawed-off shotgun. They then took Mason to Moores Road in Haldimand County where Hall shot and killed Mason.

Lusted testified the men returned to the scene a few days later to collect the body, and burn it. Lusted says he did not know Mason previously, and did not know Hall intended to kill him.

In the defence’s closing remarks this afternoon, Hall’s lawyer Dirk Derstine painted Lusted as a liar who creatively injects details into his lies so they can be shown to be true. Derstine notes Lusted admitted to lying under oath during the trial. He suggested the jury must question if Lusted’s testimony is believable.

Derstien says besides Lusted, all other evidence is circumstantial. He also says there was not enough time or firewood to burn Mason’s body in the manner Lusted described.

The judge will begin his charge of the jury tomorrow and finish on Monday, when the jury will begin deliberations.

Video: Melissa Raftis reports from the Sopinka Courthouse.