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A defense lawyer argued Thursday morning that his client, on trial for manslaughter in a Montreal court, was acting in self-defense during a fight in LaSalle that left a 48-year-old man dead three years ago.

Stephen O’Toole, 41, of LaSalle is charged in the death of Jeffrey Allaire. The victim died following an argument with O’Toole that broke out while they were gathered with friends at a residence on October 31, 2021.

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On Thursday, defense lawyer Benoît Cliche began presenting closing arguments in the trial before Quebec District Court Judge Bruno Ménard. He asked that his client be acquitted of manslaughter and said O’Toole was defending himself during a fight he did not start.

Cliche argued that based on evidence heard at trial, Allaire “was the aggressor” in the brief fight. He said the two men had been friends for a year and a half before Allaire died and often played music together.

Earlier in the day in question, Cliche said, the two men even hugged before arriving at their friend’s residence on David-Boyer St. in LaSalle, where several of their friends played instruments such as drums.

At one point during the meeting, Cliche said, O’Toole went outside to smoke a cigarette, and Allaire followed. At least one witness who testified said Allaire was not a smoker.

Another witness testified that they heard Allaire say, “You better never do anything to my sister,” as he followed O’Toole outside to the front porch.

Cliche argued that O’Toole was the only witness who could speak to the “whole” of what happened once he and Allaire were outside.

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O’Toole told the court that Allaire first punched him in the face and then punched him a second time in one of the eyes. He said he responded by punching Allaire and then pushed him back into the trash cans.

Allaire died shortly after falling.

Cliche noted that when O’Toole testified, he said he had no idea why Allaire punched him, that the victim’s mood changed in the hours before the fight and that he became “weird” after the change .

Prosecutor Philippe Vallières-Roland argued that Allaire’s father, Richard Allaire, testified that O’Toole had given the victim “a dozen punches” during the fight.

He also reminded the judge that a witness quoted O’Toole as saying, during the fight: “I got you down bro. Look at your face.”

The trial will resume Thursday afternoon.

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