Kale Leonard Gabriel murder trial closing arguments wrap up

Closing arguments have wrapped up in the second-degree murder trial of Kale Leonard Gabriel, charged in the July 2010 shooting death of Ryan White, who was gunned down in Mulgrave Park.

Defence lawyer GeoffNewton said for the jury to believe his client is guilty of murder, they have to believe all the evidence of one of the Crown's key witnesses, Randall Samson.

Newton said Samson is only looking out for himself, and the possibility of claiming a cash prize.

White's murder is on the list of Nova Scotia's major unsolved crimes and testimony leading to a conviction for crimes on that list could lead to a payout of up to $150,000.

Newton pointed out that Samson didn't say anything about White's shooting until years later.

Gabriel last to testify

Crown prosecutorRick Woodburn noted to the jury that Samson gave his statement to police before he went to the provincial rewards program to try to claim the $150,000 reward.

Gabriel was the last witness to testify at his trial. He told court he and White were struggling for control of a gun when it went off.

The bullet struck White in the chest, he died later in hospital.

Gabriel denies pulling the trigger and the gun was never recovered.

The Crown held a different opinion about what happened that night. Woodburn said Gabriel had had enough of White and went out that night with a gun to confront him.

Woodburn questioned Gabriel's claim that he stuffed a loaded handgun without a trigger guard down the front of his pants and told jurors that if you shove a loaded handgun without a trigger guard down your pants "you're singing soprano."

He said it was not the actions of someone who is afraid and acting in self defence.

Wasn't 'going tobe a tea party'

"What was he going to do?" Woodburn asked. "It wasn't going to be a tea party."

Woodburn saidGabriel had control of the gun when it went off, shooting White in the chest. Woodburnthen contorted himself to show jury the position White would have to be in when he was shot.

He says the gunshot couldn't have happened the way Gabriel says.

Newton said a more probableexplanation for what happened that night is that the gun went off accidentally as Gabriel and White struggled for control of the weapon.

That is the version of events Gabriel gave when he testified in his own defence.

The trial is being heard by a judge and jury in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The jury is expected to begin its deliberations by Wednesday.

The CBC'sBlair Rhodeslive bloggedfrom the trial.