Closing arguments expected at trial of Toronto senior charged with murder

TORONTO — Closing arguments are expected today at the trial of a Toronto senior charged with murder.

Peter Brooks, 76, has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of 72-year-old Jocelyn Dickson and the attempted murder of 91-year-old Lourdes Missier.

Crown prosecutors have told jurors that late one night in March 2013, Brooks used his cane to attack Dickson and Missier in their beds at the Wexford Residence in Toronto's east end.

Brooks has testified that a spirit in a dream told him to "beat the crap" out of his two fellow residents, and has insisted he didn't actually intend to harm anyone.

The Crown has suggested that Brooks was lying and attacked the women for revenge.

The trial has heard that Brooks had testy relations with both women, who he has described as "annoying."

The jury has heard that Brooks allegedly attacked Missier first, swinging his cane at the head of the woman who was awake at the time and raised her hands to protect herself. She was left with fractured fingers, bruises and lacerations on her face, the Crown has said.

While staff were responding to what had happened to Missier, Brooks quietly made his way to another floor, where Dickson, a woman who was paralysed on one side of her body, was asleep in her bed, the Crown said.

Using his cane once more, Brooks delivered at least seven blows to Dickson's head causing "massive" injuries that led to the woman's death, the Crown has said.

The Canadian Press