Defence: Man should be found guilty of second-degree murder in woman’s death
CALGARY — A lawyer for a man on trial for first-degree murder in the death of a Calgary mother of four says Curtis Healy should be found guilty of second-degree murder instead.
A jury heard evidence that Healy met Dawns Baptiste on a light-rail transit train while she was on her way to stay with a friend and that she told him to leave her alone after they walked away from the station.
Court heard Healy became enraged at the rejection and then stomped Baptiste’s head, dragged her through a hedge, raped her while she was unconscious and struck her over the head with a large rock.
“This case isn’t about who caused the death of Ms. Baptiste. Curtis Healy caused Ms. Baptiste’s death. Curtis Healy sexually assaulted Ms. Baptiste — we know that,” defence lawyer Shamsher Kothari said in closing arguments Wednesday.