THUNDER BAY — No one saw who shot Charlie Finlayson, both the Crown and defence agreed during closing submissions heard Thursday at the Thunder Bay Courthouse.
Justin Coaster, 34, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in January of this year.
Thunder Bay police reported to a weapons call on July 29, 2022 in the 800 block of McMillan Street where Finlayson, 37, was found deceased. Coaster was arrested on Aug. 11, 2022.
The Crown had argued that on the morning of July 29, 2022, Finlayson was in the living room of a residence on McMillan Street and that Coaster allegedly entered the room and fired a single shot at Finlayson, killing him instantly.
The bullet then grazed the top of another individual’s head before ricocheting off the wall and landing on the floor.
Finlayson was found later that day dead and laying in a pool of blood.
A number of individuals were in the residence at the time of the incident.
During his closing submissions, Crown lawyer David Pierce said a witness testified to hearing a loud bang and then seeing a tall Indigenous man named Justin pacing with a gun.
However, during the trial, Finlayson’s girlfriend testified that a different person confessed to her that he was the one who killed Finlayson, and that that he “had to do it” because Finlayson had hurt a member of his family.
The witness who testified to hearing the shot also said she saw the person who had allegedly confessed laying on a couch when she heard the bang.
Defence lawyer George Joseph said the witness said she who saw the possible alternate suspect laying on the couch is his daughter, and suggested the relationship cast doubt on her testimony.
She was the only person who puts a gun in Coaster’s hands, Joseph added, and only said it was "a Justin" and didn’t specify it was Coaster.
There is no direct evidence, including forensic, video, fingerprint, or gunshot residue evidence, linking Coaster to the murder, said Joseph.
The gun used was also never found.
Coaster will return to court later this month, when a date for the judge to return with his decision is expected to be set.
None of the allegations against Coaster have been proven in court.
