‘She was trying to conceal these remains’: Closing arguments in Andrea Giesbrecht case

WINNIPEG – Closing arguments began Wednesday in the trial of Andrea Giesbrecht.

Giesbrecht has been charged with hiding the remains of six dead infants in a storage locker. She’s been free on bail since she was arrested in October 2014.

READ MORE: Bail granted to Andrea Giesbrecht, accused in dead babies case

On Wednesday the Crown said the remains of the babies were not being “saved” like the defence has previously suggested, and talked about the “careless manner” in which they were stored.

“There is overwhelming evidence that Andrea Giesbrecht is the person who had sole possession and control of that U-Haul locker,” Crown attorney Debbie Buors said.

“She was trying to conceal these remains. She was trying to hide them.”

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Court has previously heard most of the remains found in the storage locker were in white garbage bags that were inside other bags and containers. One was in a pail under a type of concrete while another had been covered in a white powder that slowed decomposition but dried out the body and left it rock hard.

WATCH: The questions surrounding the Andrea Giesbrecht trial

1:34 The questions surrounding the Andrea Giesbrecht trial

The third infant was little more than a pile of bones wrapped in a towel.

READ MORE: ‘She told me that she lost it’: Witness testifies during Andrea Giesbrecht trial

Experts who examined the remains and reviewed the findings testified the infants were developed enough to probably have been born alive, but added it was impossible to say for sure.

Nor could they tell how the babies had died because of the advanced state of decomposition.

The Crown does not need to prove the children were born alive, but that they were at a gestational age where they were capable of being born alive, Buors said

READ MORE: Some infant remains found in Winnipeg storage locker were full term: pathologist

The defence opted not to call any witnesses, while the Crown has yet to suggest a motive for the alleged crime.

Trial began in April

The trial began in April, but has been delayed several times.  The trial has already heard that Giesbrecht was pregnant at least six times and had several legal abortions over the years, as well as a miscarriage.

Giesbrecht’s husband, Jeremy took to the stand in September. He testified he knew his wife had an unknown number of miscarriages and between nine and 11 abortions. His testimony was put on hold back in July after he was given the opportunity to seek legal advice over questions of spousal privilege.

READ MORE: Husband of Andrea Giesbrecht takes the stand

In the Crown’s closing statements, Buors said Giesbrecht went to great lengths to conceal her pregnancy.

Giesbrecht has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of two years.

With files from the Canadian Press