Forensic pathologist at Calgary murder trial says it's unlikely toddler Aliyah Sanderson died from a fall
A forensic pathologist says it's unlikely a toddler, found buried with her mother west of Calgary two years ago, died as a result of an accidental fall.
Deputy medical examiner Dr. Akmal Coetzee-Khan returned to the witness stand Wednesday at the trial of Robert Leeming.
Leeming, a 36-year-old British citizen, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Jasmine Lovett, but not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 22-month-old Aliyah Sanderson.
Lovett and her daughter were reported missing in April 2019. The next month, police found their bodies in a shallow grave at a day-use area in Kananaskis Country, west of Calgary.
Leeming told police at the time that he and Lovett had been in a relationship after meeting online in 2018. She and her daughter moved in with him a month later.
Coetzee-Khan testified earlier at the trial that Aliyah died of blunt force injuries to her head while Lovett suffered three skull fractures and was shot in the head.
On Tuesday, the doctor was asked if the child's head and face injuries could be explained by a fall.
"It's not impossible to have blunt force traumatic injuries from a single fall. It would be very unlikely,'' said Coetzee-Khan.
He noted that if the girl had fallen forward, there should have been injuries to her arms. And if she had fallen backward, there should have been injuries to her buttocks.
"On Aliyah, we don't see any of those types of injuries ... so it doesn't seem like there was a fall where her arms and legs were involved in the process.''
During cross-examination, Leeming's lawyer, Balfour Der, suggested Aliyah's injuries could have been explained by a simple fall down some stairs.
"Could a tumble down stairs _ plural, not just a single fall _ cause these brain injuries and abrasions that you saw?'' Der asked.
"Yes, it could cause the head injuries if we're only talking about that ... not taking into account the rest of the body,'' Coetzee-Khan replied.
"If we're talking about a tumble down the stairs, one would expect to see bruising or abrasions against the same surface to your arms and legs.''
Coetzee-Khan said he ruled Aliyah's death a homicide for three reasons: her injuries, where her body was found and because nobody called 911 to get her help.
Der said there could be an "innocent explanation'' as to why someone wouldn't call 911. He added there are a lot of unanswered questions in the girl's death.
"You cannot tell this court how these injuries to Aliyah Sanderson were caused. You can't eliminate a fall versus being thrown against a wall, for example?'' Der said.
"I can't eliminate them,'' said Coetzee-Khan.
"I didn't think so. Thank you doctor,'' Der said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. woman facing steep medical bills, uncertain future after Thailand crash
The family of a Victoria, B.C., woman who was seriously injured in an accident in Thailand is pleading for help as medical bills pile up.
LIVE @ 4 EDT Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending
Canadians will learn Tuesday the entirety of the federal Liberal government's new spending plans, and how they intend to pay for them, when Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the 2024 federal budget.
Ontario woman charged almost $7,000 for 20-minute taxi ride abroad
An Ontario woman was shocked to find she’d been charged nearly $7,000 after unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company while on vacation in January.
WATCH Half of Canadians living paycheque-to-paycheque: Equifax
As Canadians deal with a crushing housing shortage, high rental prices and inflationary price pressures, now Equifax Canada is warning that Canadian consumers are increasingly under stress"from the surging cost of living.
Inmate who escaped from N.B. prison has long history of violent crimes
An inmate who escaped from Dorchester Penitentiary in Dorchester, N.B., on Saturday evening has a long history of violent crimes and a history of escaping custody.
Annual inflation rate increased to 2.9% in March
The annual inflation rate ticked higher in March compared with February, boosted by higher prices for gasoline, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.
Tim Hortons launches pizza nationally to 'stretch the brand' to afternoon, night
Tim Hortons is launching flatbread pizzas nationally in a bid to pick up more afternoon and evening customers.
Thousands of dollars worth of tropical fish stolen from Ottawa Valley restaurant
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the theft of "several thousand" dollars worth of tropical fish stolen from an Upper Ottawa Valley restaurant last week.
NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station
NASA confirmed Monday that a mystery object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station.