Accused in OPP officer's killing denies he was in a 'murderous rage'
Closing arguments in Alain Bellefeuille's trial to begin next week, jury could start deliberating Wednesday
The man accused of killing an Ontario Provincial Police officer and wounding two others two years ago denied he was in a "murderous rage" the night of the fatal shooting, as the final day of evidence wrapped up in his trial.
Alain Bellefeuille, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, told a Superior Court jury he was angry the night of the incident, but not in the way Crown prosecutors alleged.
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"I was angry, yes, but not like what you say," Bellefeuille told assistant Crown attorney François Dulude during cross-examination Wednesday.
Bellefeuille acknowledged he'd been slamming doors and listening to loud music before turning in that night, but said his frustration was directed at his landlord who was forcing him to move, not at police.
Bellefeuille admitted to firing the shots that killed Sgt. Eric Mueller and injured two others after they entered his home in Bourget, Ont., on May 11, 2023, during a wellness check requested by neighbours. The trial has focused on Bellefeuille's state of mind at the time, and whether he intended to shoot the officers.
He testified over four days under questioning from both the Crown and his own defence lawyer.
The court has seen and heard extensive body-worn camera footage from the officers involved. Testimony was also heard from the responding officers and paramedics, as well as a neighbour who had called police with concerns about Bellefeuille's wellness prior to the shooting.
Bellefeuille has maintained that he didn't realize the men approaching his rented home were police officers, and believed they were trying to break in.
Closing arguments are scheduled to begin next week, with jury deliberations expected to start as early as Wednesday.