Final submissions made in murder trial connected to Kitchener, Ont. triple stabbing

Final submissions have been made during the trial of a man accused of a triple stabbing in Kitchener. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte has the latest.

Warning: Some of the details in this story may be disturbing to some readers.

The Crown and Defence have made their final submissions in a murder trial connected to a triple stabbing nearly three years ago.

Dylon Moreira is accused of stabbing his mother, his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s daughter at a Kitchener home on Nov. 15, 2022. His girlfriend died from her stab wounds.

CTV News is not naming the two adult victims as they might inadvertently reveal the child’s identity, which is protected by a publication ban.

Moreira is charged with second-degree murder for his girlfriend’s death, as well as two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Crown makes final submissions

Crown prosecutor Thomas Mack didn’t hold back as he made his final submissions at the Waterloo Region Courthouse on Thursday.

It comes just a few days after Moreira took the stand in his own murder trial.

Mack called Moreira’s evidence “unreliable and wholly incredible.” He went on to say his testimony was “evasive, self-serving and frankly, disingenuous.”

Mack referenced Moreira’s drug use, his previous criminal record and changing answers throughout his testimony.

“[It’s] fatal to his general credibility,” said Mack.

The Crown suggests Moreira’s claim that his girlfriend stabbed him first is entirely unsupported. Mack said if Moreira actually made the decision to take the knife from his girlfriend and stab her to protect himself, it is “implausible” that he would then go and stab his mother, and his girlfriend’s seven-year-old daughter.

“There is no defensive justification for inflicting 21 stab wounds on an unarmed female,” said Mack, referring to Moreira’s girlfriend being stabbed.

The Crown’s position is that Moreira had an intention to kill and understood the consequences of his actions that night, so they are asking Justice Gibson to find Moreira guilty on every count.

Defence’s final submissions

The Defence, meanwhile, leaned heavily into Moreira’s testimony that his girlfriend stabbed him first.

“I do assert self-defence,” said defence lawyer Stephen Gehl, adding there was a physical struggle between Moreira and his girlfriend.

Gehl also said there were instances that could lead to provocation, such as Moreira’s dog being stabbed.

“The dog means more to him than people,” Gehl told court.

The Defence also spent time poking holes in the testimony provided by the daughter of Moreira’s girlfriend.

Gehl made it clear he does not believe she was lying, but suggested certain statements don’t align with other witness testimony, or her own previous testimony.

“She has no idea where her mom was stabbed,” said Gehl, referring to one of the so-called inconsistencies.

He went on to tell Justice Gibson: “You should have a reasonable doubt as to whether there was an actual intent to kill.”

A date for Justice Gibson to deliver his findings still needs to be decided.