Closing arguments have wrapped up in the second-degree murder trial of Frances Sugar, and a jury is now tasked with deciding her fate.

The 53-year-old woman is accused of killing her daughter, 34-year-old Lindey Sugar, south of Saskatoon in June 2014. Police said shortly after the incident Lindey was killed following an altercation outside of a vehicle at Clarence Avenue South and Victor Road, about 10 kilometres outside the city. She suffered a neck injury and was later pronounced dead in hospital.

A lawyer for Frances Sugar said during closing arguments at Saskatoon’s Court of Queen’s Bench Monday the altercation was a case of self-defence. Frances was physically outmatched by her daughter, who attacked her, the defence argued. Frances feared for her life and tried to make peace with her daughter, but was eventually forced to protect herself.

She didn’t even know her daughter was dead until police told her the next day, according to the defence. Frances also didn’t try to hide the knife and was too intoxicated to form the intent to kill her daughter, her lawyer argued.

The Crown, which has been arguing Frances stabbed her daughter to death after a dispute, said Lindey provoked the fight but argued Frances responded with too much force. The mother was only threatened with bodily harm, not death, the prosecutor said.

The Crown also argued Frances was not as intoxicated during the alleged altercation as the defence believes. Frances drank vodka after stabbing Lindey and was walking normally along the side of the road when she was arrested, the Crown alleged.

The case is scheduled back in court Tuesday morning when the judge is expected to instruct the jury before they begin deliberations.

--- based on a report by CTV Saskatoon's Calvin To