Crown in Figliola trial finish closing argument

Six months after it began, the Figliola murder trial is coming to a close. The crown has finished addressing the jury, and all that remains are the judge’s instructions, before they retire to deliberate.

Lisa Hepfner has been covering this case, and joins us live from the courthouse with more.

The crown says Maria Figliola made concerted efforts to hide from the police her involvement in her husbands murder. Thursday, I got permission to air some court exhibits so you can see some of what the jury has been watching.

Maria Figliola gave tens of thousands of dollars to her friends, and to the alleged hitman, in the months following her husband’s death, court heard. the prosecutor also reminded the jury of her lies to police. in this interview, she denies having a boyfriend: “You know what I’ll be honest with you, if it was before and my husband found out my husband would have put me six feet under. That’s unforgivable. That’s a major sin. And if you think there’s somebody now that I don’t have a husband? You know what? Nobody would come near me for the simple reason that, don’t go near her. Whoever goes near her, she brought bad luck to her husband. I don’t have any suitors lined up out my door. You can ask my kids. I’m not saying I don’t have male acquaintances, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t sleep with anybody right now.”

But she was involved with this man, Geoff Gonsalves, even before her husband died. He became an important crown witness, although his testimony was also vague.

“They went for a walk and somewhere between the building and the path it happened.”

Frank Figliola suspected the affair in his diary. He was going to leave Maria. Told his Mom he was moving home. But he died the day before he’d planned to move out. The crown says he was ambushed on this Stoney Creek path, and beaten to death with what was likely a pool cue.

Frank Figliola’s family, including his mother and sister, were crying as the crown summed up, with a recording of Maria Figliola talking about the best year and a half of her whole life; the year her husband was killed and her cocaine-fueled affair was most torrid.

The jury won’t be coming back Friday. The lawyers need to work out some issues so they’ll be back to hear Justice Whitten’s instructions on Monday, he’s told them it could take more than a day. After that, they’ll deliberate.