The fate of a former couple accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in 2008 is now in the hands of a jury.
The jury is deliberating in the first-degree murder trial of Rafal LaSota and Michelle Liard. The pair is accused of killing Alexandra Firgin-Hewie, a Grade 8 student who was living in Mississauga at the time of her murder.
At the time of their arrest, police said LaSota and Liard had befriended Firgin-Hewie before she was stabbed 37 times, her body dumped outside the house where the couple lived.
LaSota's lawyer has argued his client is guilty of manslaughter, but does not deserve the first-degree murder charge.
Liard's lawyer has argued his client was an innocent victim who was caught up in horrible circumstances. Liard's lawyer said his client should be acquitted.
The Crown is arguing that the case is one of pre-meditated murder, where Firgin-Hewie was lured to the couple's bedroom before LaSota stabbed her to death.
Deliberations continue until at least 7 p.m. on Friday. If they have not reached a verdict by then, deliberations will continue Saturday morning.
With files from CTV Toronto's John Musselman.
