Defence at Cyr murder trial accuses witness of killing toddler
CBC News | Posted: January 14, 2015 4:41 PM | Last Updated: January 14, 2015
WARNING: This article contains explicit language
The defence lawyer for Adam Cyr has accused another man, Matthew Bennett, of being responsible for the death of toddler Natalia Shingoose. Bennett has angrily denounced the accusation.
Cyr, 34, is on trial in Regina for second-degree murder of the little girl who was found dead in her bedroom June 21, 2012.
Cyr's lawyer, Bob Hrycan, made the dramatic accusation Wednesday while Bennett was testifying in the case, which is being held before a jury. Bennett, a friend of the victim's family, has said he was walking by the child's home, at 646 Garnet St., and noticed an open door. He said he went inside to check on Shingoose and her mother.
Defence lawyer Hrycan had the jury watch video from when Bennett was interviewed by police with a particular reference to 20 minutes when Bennett was alone and had not yet been questioned. In that segment jurors saw Bennett crying, breathing hard, and muttering "She's fine."
Then, while being questioned, Bennett cries when he is told Shingoose died. He said, on the video, that the child was fine when he checked her.
Hrycan noted that Bennett also said, "My niece. Killed," even though he hadn't been told, at that point, how she died.
Hrycan then questioned Bennett, in court, suggesting Bennett was trying to get out of the police interview without being viewed as a suspect.
Bennett denied that.
Moments later, Hrycan accused Bennett of killing the child, which produced an angry denial.
"Fuck you I caused those injuries," Bennett said. "Go fuck yourself."
Shingoose was just a few days shy of her third birthday when she died.
The CBC's Ryan Pilon has been tweeting live from the courtroom.