In cross-examining the mother-in-law of the “Granby girl”, the Crown prosecutor tried to bring out all the opportunities she had to remove the duct tape that surrounded her, instead of. add.
The 38-year-old is charged with the forcible confinement and murder of the 7-year-old.
By putting documents, texts and testimony in evidence, the Crown wants to show that the accused wrapped the girl in duct tape on April 29, 2019, which caused her death.
She testified on Monday in defense of the charges, explaining that when she put sticky paper on the girl, there was already some that had been affixed by someone who cannot be identified. She also claimed that the girl was immobilized in this way because of her few attempts to escape through her bedroom window the night before the tragedy – one of which was successful. The goal was also that the furniture stacked afterwards to block her window did not fall on her and hurt her.
Crown Attorney Me Claude Robitaille, attacked his claims.
If you were afraid that a piece of furniture might fall on her, why not take her out of her bedroom? he asked.
“I totally agree with you. But at that point, it’s extreme. It is not a good decision, I admit it ”, answered the defendant, whose testimony was interspersed with sobs.
And while the woman explains that she no longer knows what to do with the child in crisis, the lawyer is behind her: why not ask for help? Why didn’t you call someone if the situation got out of hand?
“I still wonder …” The woman repeated over and over again, and without ever getting angry, that the solution that immediately appeared to her was to wait until the afternoon, when the girl was to be seen. by a child psychiatrist.
“It was the only solution at the time. I didn’t think she was going to die. “
Could you have untied it? “I know, I think about it, I think about it… all the time.”
Publication bans prevent the media from reporting certain testimonies, as does the identity of certain people involved in this affair.
Burnt out
By his questions, the prosecutor tried to show that the accused was at the end of his nerves and completely exasperated by the girl at the end of April 2019.
But the mother-in-law resisted: if she admits to having been tired – “it’s difficult, it’s every day” – she also stressed having help from her family, her friends and enough support. constant of the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ), not only financially but also in terms of expert advice to take care of the girl – and the two other children. According to her testimony, everyone was looking for solutions for the little girl who was having fits, self-harm and behaving so disturbingly that she was kicked out of school.
It was then that the accused had to take care of her full time: the task then became more onerous and she realized the extent of her behavioral problems.
She testified that she was okay with homeschooling him; “She’s my little one”, but … “I don’t expect the school to return […] That the DPJ disappear like that… I was all alone, it is sure that I am tired… there was no one around ”.
When Me Robitaille declared her cross-examination over, she immediately addressed the jury: “Thank you for listening to me. I’m sorry. I still love her, I miss her. I apologize… so much ”.
The trial will resume Wednesday morning.