Everton 'Beachy Stout' McDonald and his wife, Tonia
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A report from Racquel Porter
By Racquel Porter
The defence in the Everton 'Beachy Stout' McDonald and Oscar Barnes trial has concluded its closing submission to the jury.
Presiding judge Justice Chester Stamp is to begin summing up the case on Tuesday.
Mr. McDonald and Mr. Barnes are on trial for the July 20, 2020 murder of Mr. McDonald's wife, Tonia.
The legal team for Mr. Barnes completed its submission Friday afternoon in the Home Circuit Court, instructing the panel of seven jurors to return a not guilty verdict.
Mr. Barnes is represented by attorneys Vincent Wellesley and Ernest Davis.
Mr. Davis told the jurors that they could not hold the fact that his client gave an unsworn statement against him.
He informed them that his client acted on his constitutional right.
But he argued that the case against his client is one of identification and credibility as the prosecution's main witnesses never met nor communicated with Mr. Barnes.
The prosecution's star witness Denvalyn Minott, who was sentenced to 19 years behind bars for his role in Tonia's death, testified that he sub-contracted Mr. Barnes to kill Tonia after Mr. McDonald promised him $3 million to kill her.
Minott told the court that he and Mr. Barnes lured Tonia to Sherwood Forrest - where she was killed and her car burnt - under the guise that they were going to purchase an illegal firearm to avenge her father's death.
Mr. Davis said "they" made up the story about the gun so that it could appear that Minott knows Mr. Barnes.
The attorney said none of the telephone numbers assessed by an expert was attributed to Mr. Barnes.
Noting that there is no evidence linking Mr. Barnes to the crime besides Minott pointing him out to the police, Mr. Davis said the convict was unable to describe his client in terms of height and complexion.
He also submitted to the panel that the investigating officer made up a statement he claimed Mr. Barnes gave him after he was taken into custody.
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