It will be interesting, the next portion of the trial.
One thing, there’s absolutely no roadmap for predicting suicide. Making future plans and acting happy is exactly the reason why family and friends of suicide victims suffer huge grief because they didn’t notice any warning signs.
Of the tweets we read, I didn’t notice anything specific regarding WMs drinking habits, how often, how much, but I’m not convinced his comment to JC regarding “his problem” can be interpreted that it was nighttime drinking. Nothing specific that I recall was said about the state of his health or what caused the bad back, doctors care, etc we are only left to speculate.
Aside from JC, the majority of the witnesses were either responders or other people who admitted not knowing WM on a personal basis. Only one witness, the officer who the prosecutor apologized to the judge on behalf of, was adamant of murder as opposed to suicide.
My interpretation from testimony regarding the financial state of the new Millardair hanger, it cost $10 million to set up and later sold for less than $5 million. There was no financial benefit for DM to murder his father (however if there is motive, it could be to mitigate his loss).
My view is MMs testimony was unreliable and we don’t know if the defence will call any witnesses yet. If I were a juror I’d still be on the fence and off the top of my head I’d like to have heard evidence about
- WMs overall state of health in general, mental and physical
- Millardair financial statements including details regarding cost overruns and financing (ie accountant’s testimony)
The one thing we likely all agree on, from only the little we know, there were huge red flags that DM was not capable of managing the new business. His behaviour had to have been an embarrassment and disgrace and it appeared to be getting worse and not better. Given that was the whole point of WM starting the business into his early 70s, even mortgaged his own home to make it happen, unknown health issues, if he was of sound mind, how could’ve he been happy?
ETA - about the home mortgage, that’s huge. By Nov/12 it must’ve been noticed new air carriers weren’t flocking to Kitchener- Waterloo airport looking for MRO facilities. No contacts, no debt repayment, certification or not. Depending how highly leveraged he and the company was, no ability to repay, if loans defaulted, WM was at risk of losing his home. That had to have been a huge concern.