Trial for ownership of Ikea money comes to a close

TORONTO, June 12 (UPI) -- The former owner of a monkey discovered in the parking lot of a Toronto Ikea wept during the closing arguments of the trial set to decide the primate's fate.

Yasmin Nakhuda, whose Japanese macaque, Darwin, was taken to the Story Book Farm primate sanctuary after he was discovered wandering the Ikea parking lot while wearing a shearling coat Dec. 9, wept Tuesday as a lawyer for the sanctuary read his closing arguments for the sanctuary's claim of ownership, The Toronto Star reported Wednesday.

Nakhuda filed the lawsuit to get the monkey back less than a week after he was captured by Toronto Animal Services and taken to the sanctuary.

Kevin Toyne, a lawyer for the sanctuary, argued Darwin is a wild animal and therefore Nakhuda's ownership of him expired under wildlife laws when he left her possession.

"The second Darwin got out of the car, Ms. Nakhuda no longer owned him," he said.

Ted Charney, Nakhuda's lawyer, argued Darwin is a domesticated pet and therefore should be returned to his client.

Judge Mary Vallee is not expected to hand down a verdict until next week at the earliest.