Derek Saretzky's lawyer not calling evidence at triple-murder trial, closing arguments Monday

Derek Saretzky's lawyer will not call any witnesses to testify at his client's triple-murder trialand jurors in Lethbridge, Alta.,have been told to return Monday forclosing arguments.

Saretzky, 24, who lived inBlairmore, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing HanneMeketech, 69, and then five days later killing TerryBlanchette, 27, and his daughter,HaileyDunbar-Blanchette, 2.

• Derek Saretzky hung out with toddler he's accused of murdering and her mother a year before killings

Saretzky confessed to all three killings in videotaped interviews with police.He told policehe had feelings for Cheyenne Dunbar, Blanchette's ex-girlfriend and Dunbar-Blanchette'smother.

On Sept. 14, 2015, Saretzkysaid he brokeinto Blanchette'sBlairmore home and killedhim with a crowbar and a knife before kidnapping the young girl from her crib and taking her to a rural area.

In one of the videos recorded after that police interview, Saretzkytook investigators to a campsite that belongs to his relatives,about 20 minutes away from the Blanchette home. He re-enacted how he killed Dunbar-Blanchette, dismembered her body and performed acts of cannibalism on the toddler before burning her remains.

Police recovered hundreds of bone and tooth fragments from the ashes of the fire pit. The girl's DNA was also discovered on a toy and in a metal pot nearby.

• Derek Saretzky 'lost' and 'shaking' hours before he's suspected of first murder, says aunt

Months after he confessed to killing the father and daughter,Saretzkywas interviewed by police again. This time he admitted to killing Meketech because he thought nobody would miss her. He was asked during the interrogation if he killed Meketech for practice ahead of the father and daughter slayings, he said: "Yeah."

Jurors will be back in courtMondaymorning for closing arguments, first from prosecutor Photini Papadatou and then from defence lawyer Patrick Edgerton.

On Tuesday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice WilliamTillemanwill deliver his final instructions to jurors on how to apply the law during deliberations. They will then be sequestered until a verdict is reached.

• Derek Saretzky told police he didn't think anyone cared about senior he's accused of killing
• 'She cried a little bit': DerekSaretzkydetails kidnapping and killing of child in interrogationvideo

• Get the latest developments in thetrial from our reporterin the courtroom in ourblogbelow. On our mobile app?You can also see ithere.

• Derek Saretzky told police he didn't think anyone cared about senior he's accused of killing
• Derek Saretzky 'lost' and 'shaking' hours before he's suspected of 1st murder, says aunt
• Veteran cop who connected Derek Saretzky to 3 homicides gets emotional while testifying
• 'He told me [Hailey] was in heaven': Father of man on trial for triple murder tells jury
• 'A big cut on his neck': Father recalls finding son dead, granddaughter missing at Alberta triple-murder trial
• Hanne Meketech knew Derek Saretzky and likely kept $90K in her mobile home, trial hears
• Meketech struggled with attacker and died from head wound, Derek Saretzky murder trial hears
• Crossed-out names of victims found in DerekSaretzky'shome, triple-murder trial hears on Day 1