The jury in the trials of two teenagers accused of the murder of Maryborough man John Bourke is expected to retire on Wednesday to decide the verdicts.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Defence lawyer for the older boy, Jarrod Williams, finished delivering his closing address on Tuesday morning.
Mr Williams told the jury that the scientific and medical evidence presented during the trial did not support the prosecution's case against his client.
He said there was no evidence that his client was present when Mr Bourke's fatal head injuries were inflicted.
The teenager could not have known about Mr Bourke's 'brittle bone disease' and other conditions, Mr Williams said, that made him more susceptible to injury.
The trials, day by day:
- Day 1: Murder trial begins for teens accused of killing Maryborough man
- Day 2: Court hears teen charged with murder was drunk and upset night man died
- Day 3: Neighbours heard yelling on the night Maryborough man died, jury told
- Day 4: Teen heard saying he went to the wrong home night man died, court told
- Day 5: Jury told accused teens fought on night man died
- Day 6: Murder accused's DNA found at victim's home, court told
- Day 7: 'Substantial' force caused Maryborough victim's injuries, court told
- Day 8: Court told Maryborough man died from facial, head injuries
- Day 9: Murder accused told police he did not want to kill
- Day 10: Murder trial jury told they must consider intent of accused
The lawyer urged the jury to find his client not guilty of both murder and the alternative charge of manslaughter.
Two teenagers are charged with the murder of Mr Bourke at his Derby Road home on July 15, 2018.
Aged 15 and 17 at that time, they have both pleaded not guilty to murder, although the younger of the two has offered to plead guilty to manslaughter.
Following the closing addresses, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth began giving the jury her charge.
This includes instructions on how the jury must apply the law in their deliberations, the elements of the charges against the accused, and an overview of each of the parties' cases.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.