Mother Of Dead Infant Admits Lying To Court
Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 17:29
Some surprising revelations have come out of a trial in Prince Albert examining the death of a three year-old boy.
The mother of the toddler spent much of the morning on the stand.
Jennine Donald repeated her story from the previous day, that it was around suppertime on December 23rd, 2007, that she went downtown for about an hour to work as a prostitute so she could earn money for food.
She also testified that her mother had picked up her son Dilyn earlier in the day for a visit.
Defence lawyer Greg Chovin asked Donald why she had initially told officers she was only gone for 20 minutes.
He also produced numerous photographs showing lots of food in the house.
Donald acknowleged she was really only gone for 20 minutes, and that her earlier story of going downtown to work as a prostitute was false.
Chovin then questioned her on other statements she made.
Donald had told court that she was standing by the courthouse several months back when her mother leaned out and said she didn’t want Donald to tell police she had picked up the boy earlier in the day.
Chovin submitted that story was made up.
Donald insisted it was true.
Chovin that asked why Donald hadn’t mentioned to police in any of her statements following the boy’s death her mother had been over to pick him up.
The defense suggested to Donald that it was she who was having a hard time with a fussy child that night, hit him, and then left for 20 minutes because she got scared.
Donald denied the accusation.
Meantime a neuropathologist also took the stand.
Dr. Chris Robinson testified he examined Dilyn’s brain and found a large amount of swelling.
He also said there was evidence of previous bleeding in the past.
The defence asked him if it was likely something happened to Dilyn within the last three to four days of his death.
Robinson replied his findings were consistent with that.