Jury deliberates fate of Barrie man charged in 1994 death of young mother

Jury deliberates in Barrie murder trial The fate of Barrie man Bruce Ellis rests in the hands of the jury in the 1994 death of Katherine Janeiro.

Warning: Readers may find some details in this article disturbing or upsetting.

The fate of a Barrie man charged with the death of a young mother 30 years ago now rests in the hands of a jury.

Bruce Ellis, now 61, stands charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Katherine Janeiro on Oct. 10, 1994.

Janeiro's lifeless body was found face down in her Dunlop Street apartment bedroom floor.

The Crown argued Ellis took Janeiro's life after their relationship ended badly, telling the jury he was angry with the 20-year-old woman for telling his wife she was pregnant with his child.

The prosecution also claimed Ellis became irate after Janeiro spread rumours he had contracted AIDS from an exotic dancer.

The defence told the jury there was no motive or evidence Ellis had anything to do with Janeiro's death, pointing the finger at a since-deceased biker the young woman sold drugs for.

Ellis' lawyer said it would have been impossible for her client to have committed the crime, saying the Crown's timeline didn't add up.

The jury must now decide if Ellis is guilty of murder in the second degree or not guilty.