A judge was left debating DNA evidence from a 1992 murder scene Friday following closing arguments in the more than 21-year-old case.
Ernest Taypotat was found stabbed to death on a Saskatoon street in the 400 block of Avenue T South in August 1992.
Investigators found hair clutched in his hand but were unable to link the evidence to a suspect until 2011, when DNA tests revealed the hair belonged to Enock Quewezance, who now faces a second-degree murder charge.
Quewezance’s defence lawyer, Morris Bodnar, told court the DNA evidence is not enough to find the 41-year-old man guilty.
“It doesn’t show how it got there. It doesn’t show that there was a fight between my client and (the victim), and it doesn’t show that my client stabbed him,” Bodnar said.
The crown argued the type of hair found in Taypotat’s hand must be pulled out and that it doesn’t just fall out. They said the victim pulled out Quewezance’s hair as Quewezance stabbed him.
Bodnar said he believes his client found Taypotat after Taypotat was stabbed and that his hair was accidentally pulled out.
There is no other evidence suggesting Quewezance committed the crime, the defence said.
“My client did not know him, the victim, or anyone he know,” Bodnar said. “There is nothing there of him, only the DNA from his hair.”
A decision on the case is expected May 6.
