Jury to decide fate of neo-Nazi accused of killing Calgarian

A self-proclaimed white supremacist will soon learn his fate in the beating death of a 47-year-oldCalgary man.

Both the Crown anddefencerested their cases today in a Calgary courtroomin Robert Reitmeier's second-degree murder trial.

The 27-year-old is accused of beating Mark Mariani to death in 2010.

The police investigation had concluded thatMarianiwas beaten in the alley behind a strip mall at the corner of 16th Avenue and 15th Street N.W. before collapsing byhis vehiclein anearby parking lot.

Reitmeier's friend, Tyler Sturrup,is already serving a lifesentence with no parole for 10 yearsafter pleading guilty in March.

While Reitmeier'slawyerdidn't call any evidence, he said in aclosing statement to the jury thatthere is no direct evidence connecting his clientto the murder scene.

"We don't convict people in this country based on guesses or surmises," said Norm Kelly.

Kelly also said the Crown hasn't proven beyond a reasonable doubt that his client is guilty.

The court did hearintercepted phone calls between Reitmeier and Sturrupwhere they discussed concerns about police and media attention on the crime.

The court also viewed surveillance footage from nearby stores that shows a woman and two menentering and exiting a business near the crime scene the morning Mariani was killed. A Calgary detective identified the men as Reitmeier and Sturrup.

"Who you associate with doesn't make you guilty,"said Kelly.

He told the jury to look beyondReitmeier'saffiliations because he is entitled to "fundamental protections embedded in the justice system."

The judge is expected to charge the jury, which will begin its deliberations Tuesday.