Closing arguments in the Craig Ruthowsky trial

Closing arguments were delivered at the corruption trial of Hamilton police officer Craig Ruthowsky on Wednesday.

Ruthowsky’s lawyer pointed out that the Hamilton officer is on trial largely based on the words of three known drug dealers, criminals who admit their past.

“My client shouldn’t be on trial for doing what he can to arrest people for serious offences,” lawyer Greg Lafontaine told the jury. He asked them to acquit Ruthowsky on all charges.

Then crown, John Pollard closed his case, going through all the circumstantial evidence he says proves that the relationship between the officer and the drug dealer was corrupt. Ruthowsky tried to explain away all the evidence by saying that official police practices were too cumbersome, but the crown said, “procedures and rules, the ones Craig Ruthowsky seemed to abhor are there for a reason. They protect transparency and prevent corruption.”

On Monday the jury comes back to hear instructions from the judge, then they’ll be sequestered until they reach a verdict