Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 29/05) - A jury will resume their deliberations today in the murder trial of a reputed crack-cocaine dealer accused of brutally killing a drug associate in 2003.

Gerald Delorme spent nearly nine hours waiting yesterday as the 11-person jury weighed his future.

They returned around 9:30 p.m. to tell Supreme Court Justice John Vertes they were unlikely to reach a verdict that evening.

Gerald Delorme

Delorme faces two charges in connection with the grisly slaying of fellow crack-cocaine dealer Justin Hai Van Vo: first degree murder and accessory to murder.

The jury began their discussions Tuesday afternoon, following three weeks of sometimes sensational testimony revealing the capital's underground drug trade.

The last time a Yellowknife jury debated a first degree murder charge was 1995 when disgruntled miner Roger Warren was accused of killing nine replacement workers during a contentious labour dispute at Giant Mine. Warren was eventually convicted on nine counts of second degree murder.

During closing arguments Monday morning, defence attorney Catherine Rhinelander blamed the killing on another drug dealer and star prosecution witness, Richard Tutin.

Tutin pleaded guilty to accessory to murder last year and received a three-and-a-half year sentence. He is scheduled to be released this summer.

He testified Delorme strangled Vo with an extension cord during a fight in a downtown crack house ã testimony Rhinelander called "completely self-serving."

"He could not tell the same story twice," Rhinelander said, highlighting several inconsistencies between Tutin's testimony and statements he gave to police after the killing.

While Rhinelander conceded Delorme beat Vo during a drug and alcohol induced rage, she said Tutin delivered the fatal blow.

'Not a complex case'

She also argued Delorme was too high on crack-cocaine to fully appreciate what was happening and urged the jury to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.

"This is not a complex case. All roads lead you back to manslaughter," she said.

Crown attorney Caroline Carrasco dismissed defence suggestions that Tutin and another key prosecution witness, Francis Yukon, conspired to frame Delorme. "(The evidence) points to the person in the driver's seat from start to finish: Gerald Delorme."

Delorme faces life in prison without parole for 25 years if convicted of first degree murder. A manslaughter conviction also carries the possibility of life behind bars.

The jury spent last night sequestered in a hotel and were expected to resume their deliberations at 8:30 this morning.