Regina baby who died in 2017 had bruising on head, expert testifies
Emotions ran high on the first day of trial for a man who allegedly caused the death of his infant son.
Catlin Goodwill is charged with one count of manslaughter in the death of his three-month-old son.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Jodeci Spencer took the stand to describe the moments leading up to her son’s death.
Both Spencer and the accused broke down in tears at certain points of testimony, which lead to two separate breaks during the court proceedings on Monday.
“It was supposed to be a normal day. I didn’t think anything was going to happen. I didn’t think I was going to lose a son,” Spencer said during testimony.
The infant was found unresponsive inside the couple’s home on Regency Crescent on Oct. 14, 2017. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.
The infant was found unresponsive inside a home on Regency Crescent in October 2017. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News)
Spencer described her relationship with Goodwill as “on-and-off.” The couple was living together with their two children at the time of their youngest son’s death.
Spencer left Goodwill home alone with the two kids for the first time the day before. The next day, Goodwill stayed home with the baby, while the other son went to Spencer’s mom’s house.
When Spencer returned home with her oldest son, everything seemed ordinary, she said. Goodwill told her he just put the baby down for a nap. Although, Spencer testified that she did not see the infant because he was sitting in his baby swing facing the wall.
“I barely saw my son. I barely touched my son (that night),” Spencer told court during cross-examination.
She said she had a bath, while Goodwill continued to take care of the kids. She heard the baby cry a couple of times throughout the evening, but Goodwill tended to him.
Spencer was in the kitchen feeding her other son when she told Goodwill to check on the baby.
“He called me to the living room and told me (our son) wasn’t breathing,” Spencer testified.
“I didn’t believe him. I thought he was joking. Then when I went and touched my son, he was cold.”
They called EMS, Spencer said.
Photographs taken for forensic identification at the time of the boy’s death show several red marks and bruises on his body including bruising on the back of his head and thigh, according to one of the Crown witnesses.
Both Spencer and Goodwill were arrested and questioned about the trauma that the baby had experienced, according to her testimony. Spencer was released without charge.
Another Crown witness, advanced care paramedic and EMS supervisor Janet McMechan, was one of the first responders who treated the boy on scene.
She testified to finding him in “critical condition” on the floor in the living room. He was not breathing and his skin was bluish-grey, McMechan said. EMS also noted a bruise on the boy’s thigh, but no other trauma was visible.
McMechan said the baby was cold to touch, which would indicate he did not have proper blood flow “for awhile.” However, defence lawyer Bruce Campbell pointed out that McMechan’s original statement after the call said the boy was “warm to touch.”
McMechan corrected her testimony and agreed the infant must have been warm to touch, but said he had “cool extremities.”
EMS was told that the baby was put down for a nap at 6:30 p.m. the night of his death, McMechan testified. About three hours later, EMS was dispatched to the house for a “not breathing infant” shortly after 9 p.m.
EMS began life-saving measures inside the home before carrying the infant into the ambulance and transporting him to Regina General Hospital, where he was eventually pronounced dead.
According to McMechan’s testimony, the family told EMS that the baby had diarrhea the day before, but was “normally healthy.”
Goodwill was arrested and charged with manslaughter in August 2019 following a brief Canada-wide warrant.
Goodwill has pleaded not guilty. He re-elected to be tried by judge alone, after originally choosing a jury trial.
The Crown is expected to call a number of expert witnesses in the case, including police officers and doctors.
The trial is scheduled until Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.