Greg Fertuck says he won't take the stand in his murder trial
The end is near for a first-degree murder trial spanning more than two years.
Greg Fertuck told the court he will not take the stand in his own trial and has no further evidence to call — concluding the evidence portion of the trial.
Fertuck is accused of killing his estranged wife, Sheree Fertuck. The 51-year-old woman went missing in 2015 near Kenaston, Sask. Her body has never been found.
Fertuck is representing himself. His original lawyers withdrew from the case after Fertuck went behind their backs and made complaints about them to the Law Society of Saskatchewan.
The trial began September 2021 and has been filled with delays — largely driven by COVID-19 and the discovery of the alleged murder weapon.
Fertuck and the Crown prosecutors are scheduled to make their closing arguments on Monday.
Fertuck will go first, followed by the Crown, and a potential rebuttal by Fertuck.
Justice Richard Danyliuk advised Fertuck the rebuttal "is not a rite of re-arguing everything you argued the first time," but rather a chance to address specific statements made by the Crown that he didn't initially address.
Fertuck has been given permission to work on his closing arguments at the courthouse, rather than the jail.
The Crown's strongest piece of evidence is an undercover police video of Fertuck admitting to shooting Sheree at a gravel pit, where she worked.
The hidden camera captured Fertuck acting out the shooting, using his cane to imitate the rifle.
A key witness for the defence, Mary Ellen Lowdermilk, said she saw Sheree's semi truck pass her farmhouse at around 5 p.m. on the day Sheree went missing — disputing the Crown's timeline.
"This is a complex case with a huge amount of evidence," Danyliuk said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
Paris dazzles with a rainy Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.