Closing arguments at murder trial of man charged in beating death of girlfriend

David Yates of London, Ont. is shown in this undated image. (File)

During the trial last month in St. Thomas, the court heard about the tumultuous and violent relationship between David Yates, 53, and his 22-year-old girlfriend Caitlin Jennings.

It all came to a head on July 3, 2023, at 562 Kingsway Ave. in west London, Ont.

Officers found the lifeless body of Jennings on the blood-stained living room floor of the home.

She suffered 200 wounds and the court heard she died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries. Police charged Yates with second-degree murder, and he has pleaded not guilty.

In her closing argument, defence lawyer Cassandra DeMelo told Justice Joseph Perfetto that this is a case of self defence because Jennings was the aggressor.

She said, “He (Yates) was being attacked consistently in the home that evening ... he was responding to Ms. Jennings’ attack ... this was a prolonged fight.”

She went on, “This was not murder, there was no intention to kill Ms. Jennings. At its height, this was manslaughter.”

Before wrapping up, she said, “He (Yates) unintentionally killed the woman that he loved ... overcome with grief, he tried to take his own life.”

More than 24 hours after her death, Yates called police to the home and he was arrested.

In her closing, Crown Attorney Cara Douglas told the judge that this is a murder case, saying that Yates was fed up with Jennings having affairs.

Showing a photo of a bloody bathtub, she said, “Mr. Yates kills Ms. Jennings in the bathroom.”

She added, “Mr. Yates struck her in the head at least once with a hammer.”

When addressing his testimony, Douglas said the accused was not truthful to the court about what happened on the night in question.

The Crown then referred to the autopsy report, “She (Jennings) suffered 200 impacts, broken bones and injuries that were sustained while still being alive.”

She said because of that, “Mr. Yates had the intent for murder as opposed to manslaughter.”

Later, when referring to a suicide note in the handwriting of the accused, she said, “It stated, ‘I just killed my friend.”’

Justice Perfetto is expected to hand down his decision on the case at a later date.