Closing arguments heard in Peter Kingwatsiak murder trial

Closing arguments in the murder trial of Peter Kingwatsiak from Cape Dorset, Nunavut, wrapped upMondayafternoon in an Iqaluit courtroom.

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Kingwatsiak is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his stepbrother,Mappaluk Adla, in Cape Dorset inSeptember 2010. He's also charged with breaking and entering while committing an aggravated assault against his uncle, whom he slashed with a knife prior to killing Adla.

Justice Bonnie Tulloch heard closing arguments from Kingwatsiak's lawyer James Morton, who said his client was "in emotional extremis" during the incident for which he faces charges.

Morton said Kingwatsiakwas extremely intoxicated the morning he used a .22 calibre rifle to kill Adla, andargued that Kingwatsiak did not have the intent or capacity to commit the murder after inhaling gasoline a number of times. He is arguing the murder charge should be reduced to manslaughter.

In the Crown's closing arguments, lawyer Amy Porteous raised doubts of Kingwatsiak's varying testimony about what he recalled the night of the murder and the number of times if any he inhaled gasoline prior to killing Adla.

Porteus pointed out thatKingwatsiak had told four different people he planned tokill Adla, hadpreviouslypointed a gun at him, shot a gun at rocks indicating it was the head of Adla and had planted guns around Adla's home the night he shot him.

The Crown is seeking a first-degree murder conviction.

Justice Tulloch is scheduled to deliver an oral decision onFeb. 5. She requested a telephone connection be set up in court to allow Adla's family and members of Cape Dorset be able to listen in on the decision from the hamlet.