The fate of Christopher Gale, who is charged with second-degree murder in the 2010 shooting death of his girlfriend, is again in the hands of a jury.
The judge in the case, Justice Andrew Goodman, took several hours to deliver his charge on Monday before the jury began to deliberate just before 1 p.m.
Goodman told the jury to carefully review all of the testimony in this case and to “use your common sense. This was a relatively short trial, the evidence is still fresh in your minds.”
Meanwhile Gale appeared calm as he left for lunch with his family.
The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty in connection with the death of 21-year-old Jocelyn Bishop. Bishop’s body was found in a shallow grave behind the home they shared on Fanshawe Park Road in July 2010.
This is Gale’s second trial, after the first ended in a mistrial because the judge found a jury member “did not uphold their oath.”
Goodman referenced the first trial during his charge to the jury saying “You may have heard this case had been tried before, do not speculate on what may have happened at that trial.”
On Friday, closing arguments were presented by both sides.
The defence claims Bishop was depressed and shot herself while the Crown asserts it was Gale who shot Bishop after an argument.
Gale has admitted to burying Bishop after her death, claiming she did not get along with her family and they wouldn’t care.
The jury can return with one of two verdicts, guilty of second-degree murder or not guilty of second-degree murder.
