REGINA – A jury has found a man guilty of second-degree murder in the death of a two-year-old toddler.
Adam Cyr, 34, was on trial in Regina for killing his former girlfriend’s child in June 2012.
The jury was told Natalia Shingoose died from repeated, intentional blows that broke her ribs, punctured a lung and caused internal bleeding.
The Crown argued that Cyr beat the girl to death while her mother, Amanda Trevors, was at work and he was looking after the child.
Outside of court, Trevors told reporters she was relieved with the guilty verdict. “I’m here for my daughter Natalia. I loved her. I was a wonderful mother and I still am.”
The verdict on Thursday came after an emotionally charged trial spanning more four weeks.
The defence argued Trevors and a family friend framed Cyr for the murder. Lawyer Bob Hrycan suggested Trevors was involved in drug trafficking and people who filtered in and out of the house could have committed the crime.
“I find it unthinkable how his guilt could be the only rational conclusion on the facts of this case,” said Hrycan, outside of court.
Crown prosecutor James Fitz-Gerald said Cyr had exclusive opportunity to kill the child because he was alone in the house for eight hours with no witnesses.
“It was a difficult case because there were no admissions made and there were no eyewitnesses. It was a challenging case,” said a second crown prosecutor Adam Breker following the verdict. “But we felt certain that after a review of all the evidence that was available it clearly meant that Mr. Cyr was the one responsible for this.”
Trevors cried out in joy when the verdict was read and shouted out a thank you as the jury was dismissed.
Cyr cried with his head in his hands.
With files from Global’s Kim Smith.
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