Lawyer for Kenneth Skelly calls for lesser charge of manslaughter in 2nd-degree murder trial

The lawyer for Kenneth Skelly is calling for his client to be convicted of manslaughter in the death of Treasa Oberly. Amanda Anderson reports.

Lawyers have finished presenting evidence in the second-degree murder trial of Kenneth Skelly in the death of his common-law wife and the mother of his young son, Treasa Oberly.

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Oberly was 40 years old when she went missing from her Beaumont home in July 2023.

Her body was found two weeks later near Whitecourt.

The Crown called several witnesses last week, including several police officers, in an attempt to prove Skelly killed Oberly with a breaker bar in the couple’s garage.

On Monday it was Skelly’s lawyer’s turn to present evidence.

During opening remarks, the defence said Skelly isn’t guilty of second-degree murder, and instead is guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The first witness was an RCMP officer who was called to Skelly’s house after he made a domestic violence complaint against Oberly in February 2023.

Court heard no charges were ever laid in that incident.

The officer was asked to describe Oberly’s demeanor and said she was yelling at officers while Skelly was calm and quiet.

After a brief meeting with Skelly, the defence opted not to call any more witnesses.

Closing arguments in the trial will start Wednesday morning, then the jury will receive final instructions before they begin deliberations.