Brandon court hears closing arguments in trial of woman accused of murder in cousin's death

The trial of a woman accused of killing her cousin in December 2022 heard closing arguments in a Brandon, Man., courtroom Friday, with the defence saying the accused acted in self-defence while the Crown argued she's guilty of second-degree murder.

Rennie Kristyna Williams, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her cousin, Naomi Hope Williams, 26, who died in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

On Friday, defence lawyer Robert Harrison told the Court of King's Bench in Brandon his client acted in self-defence on Dec. 9, 2022. He described Rennie Williams as a peacemaker who wanted to prevent a fight with her cousin from escalating into violence.

Harrison cited testimony by his client, who said Naomi Williams had thrown a plate in Williams's face earlier in the evening.

"I didn't want to start anything because me and my cousin never fought before, so I didn't want it to lead to that," Harrison told the court, recounting his client's testimony.

However, a fight started that ended when Rennie Williams stabbed her cousin.

Harrison argued in the end his client was left with no other choice but to stab her cousin after the fight escalated because she was afraid for her life, adding that drugs and alcohol, including methamphetamine, were factors in the fatal events.

Crown attorney Brett Rach countered that Rennie Williams was the only person to testify that she had tried to keep the peace. He argued her version of events lacked credibility and that her charge should not be reduced to manslaughter.

Rennie Williams was the aggressor and her cousin became her target that night, Rach said, culminating in Williams stabbing her cousin in the chest with a knife Rennie owned. He pointed to inconsistencies in Williams's testimony, including conflicting accounts of the room where the stabbing occurred.

"There is no reason to believe that the way that things happened is how she said it happened," Rach said. "There's no air of reality to self-defence is the Crown's position in that Ms. Rennie Williams created the situation — she created the catalyst, her motive was not defensive."

As well, Rach said, the defendant admitted to stabbing her cousin, but did not seek help and disposed of evidence.

Justice Elliot Leven has asked both lawyers to assist his ruling by finding cases where the involvement of drugs and alcohol led a charge of second-degree murder to be reduced to manslaughter. His  decision is expected in July.