Trial begins for Granby woman accused of killing seven-year-old stepdaughter
WARNING: This story contains details some may find distressing
The trial of a Granby, Que. woman accused of killing her stepdaughter two years ago opened Monday morning at the Trois-Rivieres courthouse.
The 14 members of the jury heard a frantic 911 call from the apartment where the seven-year-old lived. The caller urged the operator to send an ambulance, and said the girl wasn’t breathing and had no heartbeat.
A paramedic gave the caller instructions on how to give CPR until a police officer eventually arrived and took over, but the little girl was then taken to hospital where she died the following day.
In his opening statement, the prosecutor said the stepmother was charged with second-degree murder and says that she wrapped her stepdaughter in adhesive tape.
The first witness was the first police officer on the scene, who told the court he was surprised by what he saw. The girl was emaciated and had bruises on her legs, thighs, upper body, her arms and hands. Her body was also unusually hot, he said.
The second officer on the scene said she, too, remarked how thin the girl was. The room she was in was dark, the windows were covered, and the furniture was piled up against the wall.
It was macabre, she told the jury, while holding back her tears.
The jury was shown photos of discarded adhesive tape and scissors next to the victim’s body.
The prosecution said it plans to call at least 20 witnesses throughout the trial, which was moved from Granby to Trois-Rivières at the request of the defence.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.