‘Lack of evidence’ should raise doubt in Calgary toddler’s death: defence

The lawyer for a Calgary man who has admitted to murdering his former girlfriend but denies killing her toddler daughter says a lack of evidence should raise reasonable doubt about his guilt.

Defence lawyer Balfour Der spoke first during Tuesday’s closing arguments, saying there’s not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Leeming did in fact intend to kill the toddler.

Leeming has already admitted to second-degree murder in the death of the toddler’s mom, Jasmine Lovett, with whom he had an on-again, off-again relationship.

The defence just wrapped up their argument, saying the Crown didn’t prove Leeming’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, pointing to a doctor testimony that admitted Sanderson’s injuries could have been caused by a fall down the stairs, the story Leeming told. @citynewscalgary

— Stefanie Lasuik (@StefanieLasuik) November 2, 2021

Der pointed to the doctor’s testimony, where Dr. Akmal Coetzee-Khan admitted the injuries could have been caused by a fall down the stairs.

RELATED:

• Defence wraps evidence in Calgary toddler murder trial

• ‘Limp and unresponsive’: Accused in toddler’s death testifies she fell down stairs

• Toddler’s death likely not from accidental fall: medical examiner

Der also said there are gaps in the crown’s theory of how Leeming allegedly killed the toddler, questioning why Leeming would beat Lovett with a hammer then shoot her, then inflict precise blunt force trauma on the toddler that didn’t break the skin.

He took issue with the Crown’s theory of events, saying it doesn’t make sense that Leeming would strike Lovett with a hammer and shoot her, then strike the child with “precise” blunt trauma that didn’t break the skin. @citynewscalgary

— Stefanie Lasuik (@StefanieLasuik) November 2, 2021

The crown argued it was a murder to cover up a murder and that Leeming executed an elaborate plan in a bid to cover his tracks.

Prosecutor Doug Taylor pointed to the bacon Leeming planted at his home to confuse cadaver police dogs, the messages he sent to Lovett after he had already killed her, and the media interviews he willingly partook in.

Taylor said Leeming “was whistling past the graveyard.”

RELATED:

• Trial hears Calgary man took steps to hide deaths of girlfriend and her daughter

• Calgary murder trial hearing from undercover officers in death of toddler in 2019

• ‘You’re looking at it’: Undercover officer says suspect led them to burial site

He established the accused had a pattern of lying, but when he finally came clean to undercover officers posing as criminals, he did not mention Sanderson.

Taylor questioned why Leeming wouldn’t take that opportunity to say her death was a mistake if it was one.

Taylor said there are no points in bad guy land for being a child killer.

-with files from the Canadian Press