Guy Turcotte murder trial: Prosecution paints portrait of man in control

Guy Turcotte was in control of his actions and deliberately killed his two childrento punish his wife for leaving him, Crown prosecutor Ren Verret said Wednesday inhis closing arguments in the former cardiologist's first-degree murder trial.

Turcotte is accused of stabbing to deathhis two children, Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3, in February 2009.

Turcotte has admitted to killing his children but has pleaded notguilty to the charges.His lawyers argue the 43-year-old should be found not criminally responsible by way of mental disorder.

Turcotte testified he drank windshield washer fluid on Feb. 20, 2009 with the intention of killinghimself and decided to kill his two young children to spare them the pain of finding his body.

Verret contended Wednesday that Turcotte only drank the washer fluid after killing thechildren.

The presence of blood onwasher-fluid bottles retrieved at the scene by investigators points to this conclusion, Verret said.

Verret said amedicalassessment of Turcotte on the night of the killings found he drank methanol no more than 90 minutes before his arrival at hospital.

That would have been after the children were stabbed, the Crown prosecutortold the court.

Manner calm, 'in control,' prosecutor says

Verretworkedto persuadethe jury Wednesday that the former doctorwas in control of his actions, pointing to Turcotte'sassertionthat he knew he was hurting his son.

The stab wounds on both children were concentrated in the areas of thechest and abdomen,which Verretsaid wasn't the actofsomeone dying or out of touch with reality.

Verret said the first psychiatrist to see Turcotte after the killings said the mandidn't have trouble speaking or remembering,and his manner wascalm and in control.

Several psychiatrists who evaluated Turcottealso concluded thathe hadn't lost contact with reality, nor did he show signs of psychosis, Verret said.