Jury to decide fate of Paul Calnen, accused of killing girlfriend Reita Jordan

HALIFAX – The fate of a Halifax man accused of killing his girlfriend is now in the hands of a jury.

The murder trial for Paul Trevor Calnen was scheduled to last for five weeks, but wrapped up in three.

READ MORE: Paul Calnen murder trial hears final arguments before verdict

Closing arguments by both the crown and defence were made Wednesday. Justice James Chipman finished instructing the jury Thursday morning and they began deliberations.

Retia Jordan, 34, went missing in March of 2013. Two months later, police officers charged Calnen with her murder.

The 52-year-old admitted on the first day of his murder trial that he did in fact indecently interfere with Jordan’s remains, by burning her, and pleaded guilty to that charge.

But Calnen pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and the case proceeded to trial.

READ MORE: Paul Calnen admits to burning Reita Jordan’s body as week 1 of murder trial wraps up

The crown called more than a dozen witnesses to make their case and introduced a number of exhibits into evidence, including women’s clothing and hundreds of pages of text messages between Jordan and Calnen as well as Jordan and one of her friends.

The defence did not call any witnesses or introduce any evidence as part of their case. In closing arguments, Planetta told the jury the crown’s case was weak and that there was no evidence to suggest his client had committed murder.

The crown on the other hand told the jury they believed Calnen murdered Jordan because she had plans to leave him and that’s why he had to burn her remains.