Yates trial: Crown wraps up evidence

The court heard more evidence surrounding the turbulent relationship between the victim and the accused. CTV London’s Nick Paparella explains.

The Crown wrapped up evidence Friday in a murder trial that sees a man charged with killing his girlfriend.

As the trial in St. Thomas moves along, more evidence is coming to light about the turbulent relationship between Caitlin Jennings, 22, and her former boyfriend 53-year-old David Yates of London.

The court has heard that in the months before her lifeless body was found at 562 Kingsway Avenue in west London on July 5, 2023, Jennings had been charged with assaulting Yates.

After that and just weeks before the killing in May 2023, London Police Const. Christine Silcox showed up at the home due to another disturbance.

She testified that, at the time, she couldn’t determine who was the aggressor. The officer then ended up charging Jennings for breaching her conditions connected to the previous assault allegation.

Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Cassandra DeMelo, the officer was asked about an interaction she had with the accused.

“He [Yates] said she [Jennings] loses her mind, correct?” DeMelo asked.

Silcox replied, “Yes.”

Just weeks after that incident, Silcox would once again show up to the home on Kingsway Avenue, but this time, she would find the badly beaten body of Jennings lying on the livingroom floor.

The court has heard that she died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

Yates would be arrested at the home and has pled not guilty to second degree murder.

With the Crown’s case now wrapped up, DeMelo is expected to give an opening statement on Monday before the defence starts with its evidence.