Closing arguments were heard Tuesday in the Regina manslaughter trial of Jason Will.
The 25-year-old is accused in the death of 18-month-old Raime Myers. The little boy stopped breathing while under the care of Will in July 2009.
A forensic pathologist earlier testified that the child had been intentionally smothered.
However, in his closing arguments, Will’s lawyer, Carson Demmans, pointed to testimony from a defence pathologist, who suggested the possibility that the toddler’s death was the result of an epileptic seizure.
Demmans argued that the Crown’s case is based on circumstantial evidence and that the manslaughter charge had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
But Crown prosecutor Connie Hottinger noted in her closing arguments that a witness saw Will hold his hand over the crying child’s mouth for as long as 30 seconds.
Hottinger also said Will was the only person with the toddler that fateful day, and that his actions, which she described as an assault, led to the child’s death.
Justice Dennis Ball has reserved his decision until Aug. 3.
