Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Jury holds fate of two accused in alleged murder conspiracy

Jun 2, 2016 | 5:18 PM

After eight long days of testimony and recordings, the trial of two lovers accused of plotting to kill their spouses is coming to a close.

The jury heard closing statements from the Crown and defense Thursday, June 2 at Prince Albert’s Court of Queen’s Bench in the murder conspiracy trial of Curtis Vey and Angela Nicholson.

Both were arrested and charged July 6, 2013 after Vey’s wife made a secret recording of the two allegedly discussing how to best set a house on fire and when to meet once the deed was done.

Crown prosecutor Lori O’Connell referred to the recording numerous times during her closing statement, and said “it’s not just talk between two lovers, it’s a detailed plan.”

She admitted neither party directly came out and said “let’s kill our spouses,” but said the inference was there and couldn’t be ignored when Vey and Nicholson discussed wills, sleeping pills and grease fires.

In the end, O’Connell said the conversation on the alleged plot was not concerned with “could or should,” but instead focused on “when and how.”

Both Vey’s lawyer Aaron Fox and Nicholson’s lawyer Ron Piche talked about the initial recording but focused more on the admissions from the two during their time under interrogation and in their cells with a planted undercover RCMP officer.

Fox and Piche both described how many times both accused said they could have never gone through with the alleged plan.

Fox said in the recorded talks, Vey lashed out at his family after years of being under suspicion for having an affair, which he was with Nicholson.

The court had previously heard from Vey on how his wife monitored his calls and emails, and how just one day before the recording was made, had patted him down to see if he was carrying a second cellphone.

Vey allegedly also knew he was being recorded on the day when he had Nicholson over for a visit when they discussed their alleged plans.

“The conversation is offensive and the conduct not good, but it’s not criminal,” Fox concluded.

Piche said Nicholson had very little motive to try to kill her estranged husband Jim Taylor since their relationship had, in her own words, been getting better.

“This case and the evidence is all speculative, and people in this country don’t get convicted of suspicion,” he said.

Chief Justice Martel Popescul will give his charge to the jury at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, June 4 before they leave to begin deliberations.

 

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit