Prince George, B.C. – The jury in the Cody Alan Legebokoff  multiple first degree  murder trial will start its deliberations on Wednesday.

Justice Glen Parrett continues  the delivery of  instructions to the jurors, covering  aspects such as the  use of similar fact evidence, problematic testimony which is inconsistent with other testimony or evidence,  reviewing  audio and video recorded evidence  to pay attention  to  tone of voice and mannerisms in addition to the words that are said.

He reminded the jury that  Legebokoff is  facing four  counts of first degree murder, and should the jurors  determine he is responsible for one, that doesn’t mean  he  should automatically be  convicted of the  other three .   Justice Parrett reminded jurors that  in each case,  the jurors must believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Cody Alan Legebokoff was responsible.

Adding in a new wrinkle is  Legebokoff’s attempt this week to plead  guilty to 4 counts of  second degree murder,  the Crown  rejected  that  move, but Justice Parrett  advised the jury they could consider that attempted change in plea as they  try to determine if Legebokoff is guilty of  murder.

The afternoon session focused on the  aspects of the law  pertaining to aiding and abetting.  Legebokoff  testified that he was an accessory, but the  murders were actually carried out by  men he identified as   X, Y and Z. Legebokoff had testified is was Mr. X who killed Jill Stuchenko,  delivered the initial blows to  Cynthia Maas and Natasha Montgomery,  that Mr. Y  used a picaroon to  finish off Cynthia Maas and  Mr. Z  used a knife to  cut  Natasha Montgomery’s throat.

Justice Parrett  told the jury that if they  believe  the  testimony about X Y and Z,  (three men who have not been identified  for possible police verification) then Legebokoff’s  role must be examined as he has testified he provided the murder weapon  in each  of the three killings.  If the Crown  proved that  Legebokoff  knew  the women were going to be killed,  provided a weapon to carry out that intent, then he could be  found guilty of  murder  by aiding  a   person to commit  a first degree murder.  But that all rests on whether or not the jury  buys the testimony about the  murderous mystery men.

Justice Parrett has explained  Legebokoff could be found  guilty of first degree murder  if the jury   believes there is evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the murders  were planned and deliberate, or, if  they  believe all four women ( including Loren Donn Leslie)  were killed  either during a sexual assault or  during an attempted sexual assault.

Justice Parrett expects he will need  no more than an hour to  deliver the last portion of his instruction the Jury and they can begin their deliberations at about 11:00 a.m.