Defence wraps at murder trial of man accused of killing OPP officer

Closing arguments will continue in the trial of a man accused of killing an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer and injuring two others during a 2023 wellness check at his home in Bourget, Ont., east of Ottawa.

Alain Bellefeuille has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder at the bilingual Superior Court trial that began in March.

On Tuesday, jurors heard final submissions from Bellefeuille's defence lawyer. The Crown is expected to deliver its closing remarks on Wednesday, and the jury could begin deliberating as early as Thursday.

The court has heard that Bellefeuille fired the shots that killed Sgt. Eric Mueller and injured constables Mark Lauzon and Francois Gamache in the early morning hours of May 11, 2023.

At issue throughout the trial has been whether Bellefeuille knew the people entering his home were police officers, and what his intentions were when he fired multiple volleys from his rifle.

Defence attacks Crown case

During the trial, Bellefeuille testified he'd been asleep and was awoken by his barking dog, flashing lights and loud banging outside his rented rural home. He said he believed someone was trying to break in.

Bellefeuille's defence lawyer Leo Russomanno urged the jury to consider the events from Bellefeuille's perspective, stressing that it all happened over the span of just four minutes — from the time police arrived to the time his client called 911.

Russomanno argued Bellefeuille did not have the "luxury of time" nor "clarity" to fully process what was happening, and that he was overwhelmed by "fear and confusion."

The jury has heard and seen body-worn camera footage taken from the responding officers. Testimony was also provided by paramedics and a neighbour who had called police with concerns about Bellefeuille's well-being.

Accused testified in his own defence

During his four days on the witness stand, Bellefeuille repeatedly told court he didn't know the people entering his home were police officers.

Testifying in French, he admitted to playing loud music and slamming doors on the night of the incident, explaining he was angry about his imminent eviction by his landlord. 

He denied the Crown's suggestion that he was in a "murderous rage" that night, and during closing arguments Russomanno said Bellefeuille had "no beef with the police."

Crown prosecutors challenged Bellefeuille's credibility, accusing him of illegally modifying his rifle to hold more rounds, and attempting to hide evidence by placing a spent magazine in a cooler in his hunting room, tossing a police-worn body camera into his backyard and placing his own weapon on Mueller's body.

Bellefeuille denied making any attempt to mislead investigators, telling court he placed the magazine in the cooler out of habit, and placed his weapon on the officer's body to demonstrate that he was unarmed.

Defence casts doubt on accusations

The defence also cast doubt on parts of Lauzon's testimony, including whether he drove around the property before entering the home.

Russomanno told the jury the Crown's theory — that Bellefeuille was lying in wait for police — lacked common sense. 

He said his client's behaviour immediately after the shooting, including disarming himself and calling 911, did not match the prosecution's narrative.

Jurors were asked to focus on whether Bellefeuille's belief that his home was being invaded was reasonable, and whether the Crown had proven intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

The trial is expected to continue Wednesday in L'Orignal with the Crown delivering its closing remarks.

The judge is likely to instruct jurors on Thursday before they begin their deliberations.