Defence attempts to raise doubts during final day of arguments in Saskatoon murder trial
All evidence and testimony has been presented in the case against a man accused of first-degree murder in his girlfriend's death.
On Thursday, court heard the final arguments and statements from both the Crown and defence in the first-degree murder trial for Ivan Roberto Martell, who is accused of killing his former partner, Ally Moosehunter, in March of 2020.
In total, 28 witnesses were called to give testimony in an emotional trial where some of the graphic details of the case left family members and supporters visibly distraught.
Court heard Moosehunter died from multiple sharp and blunt force injuries and manual compression of the neck on March 4, 2020.
Thursday was a summary of relevant points brought up in trial, including arguments from the defence that it shouldn't be surprising that Martell's DNA was detected in the residence, as he had previously lived there.
The defence also argued that evidence suggested Moosehunter's door was not locked the night of the killing, and that anyone may have gained entry to her home.
The Crown provided a timeline of events linking cell phone data and records, as well as details of the autopsy.
The two main issues brought up by the Crown were whether Martell did in fact kill Moosehunter and whether the murder was committed while a sexual assault occurred.
Court heard examples of cases where sexual assault was linked to murder, which the Crown said represented the ultimate exploitation of a position of power over the victim, and they were deemed first-degree murder.
The defence said first-degree murder is the most serious of crimes that carries the most serious of consequences, and that there was no evidence of first-degree murder.
As this was a judge-only trial, court is adjourned until May 19, when Justice Robertson will deliver his decision.
--With files from John Flatters
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Ontario doctors disciplined over Israel-Gaza protests
A number of doctors are facing scrutiny for publicizing their opinions on the Israel-Hamas war. Critics say expressing their political views could impact patient care, while others say that it is being used as an excuse for censorship.
Here is what Canada's drug shortage situation looks like right now
Compared to the peak pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, Canada experienced an uptick in prescription drug shortages in 2022 that Health Canada says has continued throughout 2023.
'We wish we could've reached that kid earlier,' says online educator about boy's suicide after apparent sextortion
The chat may seem innocuous at first. The victims, often young men or boys, start communicating with someone posing as a young girl, typically on the popular social media platforms Instagram and Snapchat. But with sextortion, which occurs when people are blackmailed for money or sexual favours, 'sextorters' convince them to share a sexual photo or video.
'No concessions' St-Onge says in $100M a year news deal with Google
The Canadian government has reached a deal with Google over the Online News Act that will see the tech giant pay $100 million annually to publishers, and continue to allow access to Canadian news content on its platform. This comes after Google had threatened to block news on its platform when the contentious new rules come into effect next month.
Live updates Hamas frees 10 Israeli women and children, 4 Thai nationals
A group of 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals have been handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross late Wednesday, the Israeli military said. The release was expected to be followed by Israel freeing 30 Palestinian prisoners. Two Russian-Israeli women were also freed in a separate release earlier Wednesday evening and have arrived back in Israel.
Provinces are moving away from pap smears, but more infrastructure is needed
Some provinces are moving to HPV tests as the primary mode of cervical cancer screening, and others are close behind, an expert says.
opinion Don Martin: With Trudeau resignation fever rising, a Conservative nightmare appears
With speculation rising that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will follow his father's footsteps in the snow to a pre-election resignation, political columnist Don Martin focuses on one Liberal cabinet minister who's emerging as leadership material -- and who stands out as a fresh-faced contrast to the often 'angry and abrasive' leader of the Conservatives.
Musk uses expletive to tell audience he doesn't care about advertisers that fled X over hate speech
Billionaire Elon Musk said Wednesday that advertisers who have halted spending on his social media platform X in response to antisemitic and other hateful material are engaging in "blackmail" and, using a profanity, essentially told them to go away.
U.S. says alleged murder plotter was directed by India and mentioned B.C. killing
U.S. officials have charged an Indian national in a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil – in a case they say is connected to the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.