A jury will soon determine the outcome of a murder trial that dates back to December 2020 in Tofino.

Luke Priddle, 27, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Mathew Phillips, 47. Priddle is also charged with robbery and theft of Phillips' motor vehicle.

After two weeks of witness testimony, Crown counsel and the defence had a chance to make their closing arguments to the BC Supreme Court jury on Monday, April 7 in Port Alberni. 

Defence lawyer Dale Marshall argues that Priddle was 香蕉视频直播渟cared for his life香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播済rossly intoxicated香蕉视频直播� by cocaine use, so he was not able to form the intent to murder when he stabbed Phillips in the neck on Dec. 28, 2020, severing his carotid artery and jugular vein.

The two had met up for sex at Phillips' home in the early hours of the morning and then got into an argument over some cocaine that Priddle had not fully paid for. This altercation turned violent as Phillips tried to prevent Priddle from leaving, said Marshall.

Marshall pointed out that in the hours before Phillips香蕉视频直播� death, phone logs show that Priddle was messaging former sexual partners and people on various dating apps in an attempt to find 香蕉视频直播渃ompanionship香蕉视频直播� for the night.

香蕉视频直播淭hese were not the actions of a young man looking for a violent encounter,香蕉视频直播� he said.

However, Crown prosecutor Lindsay Pearce argued that some of Priddle香蕉视频直播檚 testimony didn香蕉视频直播檛 match up with the physical evidence at the scene and expressed doubt that Priddle was in a 香蕉视频直播渇ight for his life.香蕉视频直播�

At the time of the altercation, Priddle was the taller, heavier and younger of the two men and, by his own admission, was able to disarm Phillips. She pointed to the fact that Priddle was relatively 香蕉视频直播渦nscathed香蕉视频直播� in comparison to Phillips after the fight.

Pearce also drew attention to the number and severity of injuries to Phillips香蕉视频直播� body. He had received a total of 75 knife wounds, including 67 stab wounds, many of which involved 香蕉视频直播渁 significant degree of force,香蕉视频直播� said Pearce. She called the degree of violence 香蕉视频直播渨holly disproportionate香蕉视频直播� to any perceived threat.

Phillips香蕉视频直播� autopsy found that one of the stab wounds to the head had been delivered with so much force that a broken knife tip was found embedded in the skull.

香蕉视频直播淭his was not the result of a knife just flailing around,香蕉视频直播� Pearce told the jury on Monday, adding that these injuries required 香蕉视频直播渟ustained effort and focus.香蕉视频直播�

Although Pearce agreed that Priddle was under the influence of cocaine at the time of Phillips香蕉视频直播� death, she argued that it was 香蕉视频直播渘ot enough to render him so intoxicated that he could not form intent.香蕉视频直播� She pointed to Priddle香蕉视频直播檚 actions after the moment of death as evidence. Priddle stepped over the body to start snorting cocaine in the kitchen. He also searched the apartment for the keys to Phillips香蕉视频直播� Honda CR-V, and searched Phillips香蕉视频直播� body for the keys.

By his own admission, Priddle at some point turned on all the burners on the apartment香蕉视频直播檚 stove, and crime scene photos taken on Dec. 30 show the remnants of Christmas decorations melted on top of the stove. Pearce argues that Priddle香蕉视频直播檚 intention had been to destroy evidence of his crime.

What Priddle didn香蕉视频直播檛 do after Phillips香蕉视频直播� death was also intentional, Pearce argued. He didn香蕉视频直播檛 call 911 or go to the hospital to tend to his own wounds. Instead, he returned 香蕉视频直播渢o life as usual,香蕉视频直播� driving around Tofino in Phillips' car and hanging out with his friends at his RV, until he was arrested in Nanaimo on Dec. 30.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Tuesday, April 8.