Defense expert Anny Sauvageau contradicted the causes of the death of the girl from Granby which had been presented so far in the trial of the child’s mother-in-law. The witness concluded that the girl was indeed dead from the duct tape she was wrapped in, but found it unlikely that her mouth and nose were covered.
The forensic pathology consultant determined that the girl died of hyperthermia from body wrapping and mechanical asphyxia. Forensic pathologist Caroline Tanguay, who testified at the Crown’s request three weeks ago, instead claimed the victim died of external suffocation.
“External suffocation, the adhesive tape would have had to be put in such a way as to completely obstruct the mouth and nose,” explained Mme Sauvageau. Care should be taken to smooth along the mouth and up along the nose. ”
The expert pointed out that if the child had died of external suffocation, the first responders would have noticed compression marks on his face and not just on his body. The girl was reportedly unable to speak, cry or cry as reported by the accused’s son and the mother-in-law herself.
Hyperthermia hypothesis
Mme Sauvageau considers “very likely” that the child died instead of hyperthermia by body wrapping. The girl wore a shirt, the sleeves tied at the back, like a compression garment, before being wrapped in several layers of duct tape. A pink toque had also been placed between his ankles.
Wrapping in material like this can make it so that the body cannot return its temperature to the outside if it is too hot. He cannot sweat effectively. Even if we get wet, we cannot do the temperature exchanges to cool ourselves down.
Pathologist Anny Sauvageau, third and final defense witness
This theory would explain why a police officer and paramedic found the girl’s body hot when it was discovered naked and lifeless on the floor of her bedroom, Mr.me Sauvageau. The first responders had also spoken of a “wall of heat” when they entered the victim’s room.
Mme Sauvageau also underlined that before being rolled up with adhesive tape, the child’s arms were brought back, in a cross, on his thorax. ” With the slap tight ”, this position may have prevented“ breathing movements ”.
The DD Caroline Tanguay had for her part excluded the hypothesis of hyperthermia, because she considered it impossible that the temperature of the child then fell to 34.1 during its transport to the hospital. The pathologist had also investigated the possibility of mechanical asphyxiation, but dismissed this conclusion after hearing the testimony of the accused’s son. He said there was a gap between the tape and the child’s body. He also said he saw his sister’s mouth and nose covered in sticky paper.
Different analyzes of the experts
Earlier in the afternoon, Anny Sauvageau detailed the evolution of the victim’s height and weight during his short life. The expert concluded that the child was small and that her weight was proportional to her height.
“I do not consider that she was skinny or undernourished,” said M.me Sauvageau. She suggested that the child was sometimes “overweight despite being small.” The DD Tanguay had reported a “significant delay in weight”.
The first witnesses who arrived in the room of the 7-year-old girl also spoke of a “rickety” child. A policeman referred to the starving children of Ethiopia.
The 38-year-old mother-in-law is charged with second degree murder and forcible confinement.
On Thursday, the Crown will cross-examine Anny Sauvageau. Defense and Crown argument, one of the final stages of the trial, will take place thereafter.