Jury hears wire taps as double murder trial resumes, closing arguments near

The double murder trial of Christopher Lucas resumed Monday at the Welland courthouse, with closing arguments expected by late this week or early next week in the case tied to a 2021 shooting at a Fort Erie house party.

Jurors heard wiretapped phone calls by Lucas from August to September in 2021 made while in custody at the Toronto South Detention Centre. The calls include discussions about COVID-19 lockdowns, Lucas’ Snapchat popularity, video games, language and references to drug trafficking and media coverage of the case.

The Crown and defence have presented more than 100 exhibits to the jury. Those include photographs from the scene, DNA samples, phone records and testimony from forensic pathologists.

Lucas, 27, of Toronto faces two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Juliana Pannunzio, 21, and Christine Crooks, 18, after proceedings paused over the holidays following weeks of evidence.

Pannunzio of Essex and Crooks of Toronto were both killed at a short-term rental home on Niagara Parkway.

The trial began October 20 last year and to date, no attendees of the party said they saw the shooting or could identify the shooter.

If schedules hold, jurors could be asked to begin deliberations shortly after closing arguments conclude.

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