Closing arguments at murder trial looking into death of former Helix Guitarist

A London courthouse heard the closing arguments in the Craig Allan second-degree murder case on Thursday, CTV London’s Nick Paparella reports.

Both the Crown and defence argued throughout the day on Thursday as to whether or not 50-year-old Craig Allan should be found guilty in the death of former Helix guitarist Daniel Fawcett.

In her closing address to a London court, Crown Attorney Marcia Hilliard wasted little time in pointing the finger at Allan, insisting that he was the person who stabbed 52-year-old Fawcett to death in the middle of the night at Gibbons Park in north London on November 6, 2022.

She told Justice Patricia Moore that the victim was lured to the park by Allan’s friend, who told the court that they were assaulted by Fawcett, “Mr. Allan has a motive to commit the offence,” stated Hilliard.

The Crown said there was forensic evidence as well, “The location of the cigarette butt with [Allan’s] DNA on it was 15 metres away from Mr. Fawcett’s body,” continued Hilliard.

The court has heard that drugs were involved between the three, and that’s how Fawcett ended up there.

Hilliard then said Allan was not to be trusted because he lied several times during the police interview changing his mind on a number of occasions.

She said, “He’s trying to deceive police, he’s concocted his account and admits to lying.” She goes on to say, “At first he says he’s not in London but then is confronted with a still shot and he is caught and changes his mind.”

Hilliard told the court, “The next area he lies about is not knowing Daniel Fawcett... he knows exactly who Mr. Fawcett is.”

Charged with second degree murder, Allan has plead not guilty.

Later defence lawyer Carolynn Conron gave a lengthy closing.

She told the court that Allan’s friend is the one responsible for the death because they were seeking revenge, “They are the last person who sees him alive... emails say I’m going to murder you and then he gets murdered.”

As for the DNA evidence, Conron says Allan shared cigarettes with the friend, “There are no cigarette butts with just Mr. Allan’s DNA alone.”

As for why Allan changes his story to police, Conron said, “[Allan] says he’s never wanted to be a rat and then he gives his version.”

Justice Moore is expected to hand down her decision on the case at a later date.