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

Stephen O’Toole, 41, of LaSalle, is charged with the death of Jeffrey Allaire. The victim died on October 31, 2021, after a fight broke out with O’Toole while he and friends were gathered at a house.

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On Thursday, defense lawyer Benoît Cliche began making closing arguments in the hearing before Quebec Court Judge Bruno Ménard. He wanted his client to be acquitted of manslaughter and said O’Toole was defending himself during a fight he did not initiate.

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

Cliche said that earlier on the day in question, the two men had hugged each other even before heading to their friend’s house on David-Boyer St. in LaSalle, where several of their friends were playing instruments such as drums.

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

Another witness testified that they heard Allaire say, “You better not do anything against my sister” as he followed O’Toole onto the porch.

Cliche argued that O’Toole was the only witness who could talk about the “totality” of what happened while he and Allaire were outside.

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O’Toole told the court Allaire punched him in the face and then delivered a second blow to one of his eyes. He said he responded by punching Allaire and then pushed him toward the trash cans.

Allaire died shortly after falling.

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

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

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

The hearing will continue on Thursday afternoon.

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