Edmonton filmmaker Mark Twitchell is charged with first-degree murder in the death of John Altinger.Amanda McRoberts/The Canadian Press
The lawyer for an amateur filmmaker accused of a bizarre movie-related murder says his client has lied a lot in the past, but that doesn't mean he's lying now.
Charles Davison, in his closing address, told Edmonton jurors pondering the fate of Mark Twitchell that they can't treat the case like the story of the boy who cried wolf.
He says they must ignore Mr. Twitchell's past lies and look at the facts alone; he says those facts don't prove Mr. Twitchell guilty of first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mr. Twitchell, who is 31, is accused of deliberately killing Johnny Altinger in October of 2008.
The Crown says Mr. Twitchell lured Mr. Altinger to a garage and dismembered him in the same way a victim died in one of his movies.
Mr. Twitchell has admitted luring Mr. Altinger, but only as a prank to help hype the movie; he has told court Mr. Altinger became upset, they fought and he killed Mr. Altinger in self-defence.