Crown disputes wife strangler’s self-defence contention

CALGARY — The lawyer for a man who admits he strangled his wife and buried her body in their home says his client was acting in self-defence, but the Crown is arguing he made up stories of domestic abuse to avoid a murder conviction.

The two sides made their closing arguments Thursday in the second-degree murder trial of Allan Shyback.

Shyback, 40, is also charged with causing an indignity to the body of Lisa Mitchell, 31, who was last seen alive in Calgary in October 2012.

An undercover “Mr. Big” sting operation was launched in 2013 and ended with Shyback’s confession and arrest in Winnipeg a year later.

Defence lawyer Balfour Der said the onus of proof is on the prosecution and that the accused must get the benefit of reasonable doubt.

On the stand this week, Shyback said he had been the victim of domestic abuse for nearly a decade.

He said Mitchell had attacked him with a knife the day she was killed.

He also admitted to placing her body in a Rubbermaid container and cementing it into the wall in the basement.

But Shyback also told court he didn’t try to kill his wife, loved her and was defending himself, Der pointed out.

Prosecutor Jayme Williams said Shyback’s version of events appeared to be tailored to fit his story of abuse and noted he had told an undercover officer he was going to have to put a “good spin” on the facts to avoid a murder charge.

Shyback’s account that he was trying to protect himself when Mitchell came at him with a knife was inconsistent and contradictory, Williams said.

Justice Rosemary Nation reserved her decision until May 18.