Lawyers presented their closing arguments on Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of murdering a teenager in Behchokǫ, N.W.T. Zakk Lafferty, who was 24 at the time of his arrest, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Deijean Drybones in August 2023.
The ongoing jury trial, now in its second week, has featured testimonies from various Crown witnesses, including four young individuals present on the night of Drybones’ death, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy, and multiple RCMP officers involved in the investigation.
During the proceedings, Crown prosecutor Brendan Green emphasized the simplicity of the case, stating that while no homicide is straightforward, the facts in this instance are clear. Green alleged that on the night of Drybones’ death, Lafferty engaged in a confrontation with one of the witnesses over a phone, which ultimately led to the fatal stabbing of Drybones.
Green pointed out Drybones’ statement to first responders implicating Lafferty as the assailant, arguing that it was a credible and reliable account due to the circumstances of the incident and the time spent together by the two individuals.
In response, Lafferty’s defense attorney, Kimberly Arial, highlighted the video recording of Lafferty’s statement to the RCMP, suggesting that Lafferty’s account remained consistent and should be considered in its entirety. Arial also raised concerns about the impact of intoxication on Lafferty’s actions and statements on the night of the incident.
Furthermore, Arial argued against the reliability of Drybones’ pre-death statement, emphasizing the lack of opportunity for cross-examination and the potential influence of intoxication on his recollection. She also underscored the absence of concrete evidence linking Lafferty to the crime scene, noting the failure to recover any weapon or DNA implicating Lafferty at the location where Drybones was discovered.
The primary RCMP investigator on the case, Cpl. Greg Morrow, testified earlier in the trial, detailing the decision to arrest Lafferty based on the audio recording of Drybones identifying his attacker. Morrow also described the search conducted at the residence where the incident occurred, revealing the discovery of blood samples that matched Drybones’ DNA.
Despite extensive searches at both the crime scene and Lafferty’s residence, no murder weapon was recovered, and no incriminating evidence was found at Lafferty’s home. The trial is set to conclude with Justice David Gates delivering instructions to the jury on Thursday.
