Both the Crown and the defence made their closing arguments on Friday in the case against 34-year-old Koree Dockstater.
Crown attorney Jeremy Carnegie wasted little time in telling the court that Dockstater was the one who killed Shaniqua Henry by stabbing her in the heart.
The pair had been partying with friends on July 19 of 2022 when a verbal argument turned physical, with Carnegie saying, “Ms. Henry was alive and dies from cuts and stab wounds and Ms. Dockstater is the last person to see her alive.”
Carnegie then turned to forensic evidence surrounding the Chevy Impala owned by the accused, “Shaniqua Henry’s blood is found the next morning inside and outside that vehicle.”
The Crown then pointed to post offence conduct, saying Dockstater never called 911 or tried to help for her close friend, “She (Dockstater) didn’t because she’s the one who did the stabbing, she’s the one who killed Ms. Henry.”
The body of the 27-year-old Henry would be found on a long laneway off Jubilee Road on Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. She was found lying next to a puddle by three men, including Crown witness Mathew Riley, who was one of the people partying with both women on the night in question.
Later, defence lawyer Geoff Snow gave his closing address, telling the court that there’s not enough evidence in this case to convict Koree Dockstater, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
Snow told Justice Marc Garson that the Crown hasn’t proven its case saying, “A reasonable doubt can flow from evidence, and it can flow from a lack of evidence.”
Then, Snow pointed the finger at Riley, saying that he was not a credible witness when he testified, “Mr. Riley admitted to lying. He didn’t want to tell the truth about everyone’s involvement. He’s on Shaniqua’s side.”
As for why his client may not have called for help, Snow said of Dockstater, “She has no idea that something has happened to Shaniqua.”
Justice Garson is expected to hand down his decision on the case at a later date.
