Derek Saretzky's lawyer not calling evidence at triple-murder trial, closing arguments Monday - Action News
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Derek Saretzky's lawyer not calling evidence at triple-murder trial, closing arguments Monday

WARNING: Story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers. The trial for Derek Saretzky, accused of killing three people in the Crowsnest Pass, is coming to an end. Jury deliberation is set to start on Tuesday.

WARNING: Story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers

A jury is now deliberating the fate of Derek Saretzky, top right, who is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 2015 deaths of Hanne Meketech, and Terry and Hailey Blanchette. (Facebook/RCMP)

Derek Saretzky's lawyer will not call any witnesses to testify at his client's triple-murder trialand jurors in Lethbridge, Alta.,have been told to return Monday forclosing arguments.

Saretzky, 24, who lived inBlairmore, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing HanneMeketech, 69, and then five days later killing TerryBlanchette, 27, and his daughter,HaileyDunbar-Blanchette, 2.

Saretzky confessed to all three killings in videotaped interviews with police.He told policehe had feelings for Cheyenne Dunbar, Blanchette's ex-girlfriend and Dunbar-Blanchette'smother.

On Sept. 14, 2015, Saretzkysaid he brokeinto Blanchette'sBlairmore home and killedhim with a crowbar and a knife before kidnapping the young girl from her crib and taking her to a rural area.

In one of the videos recorded after that police interview, Saretzkytook investigators to a campsite that belongs to his relatives,about 20 minutes away from the Blanchette home. He re-enacted how he killed Dunbar-Blanchette, dismembered her body and performed acts of cannibalism on the toddler before burning her remains.

Police recovered hundreds of bone and tooth fragments from the ashes of the fire pit. The girl's DNA was also discovered on a toy and in a metal pot nearby.

Months after he confessed to killing the father and daughter,Saretzkywas interviewed by police again. This time he admitted to killing Meketech because he thought nobody would miss her. He was asked during the interrogation if he killed Meketech for practice ahead of the father and daughter slayings, he said: "Yeah."

Jurors will be back in courtMondaymorning for closing arguments, first from prosecutor Photini Papadatou and then from defence lawyer Patrick Edgerton.

On Tuesday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice WilliamTillemanwill deliver his final instructions to jurors on how to apply the law during deliberations. They will then be sequestered until a verdict is reached.

  • Get the latest developments in thetrial from our reporterin the courtroom in ourblogbelow. On our mobile app?You can also see ithere.