Advertisement

Calgary court hears Tamara Lovett ‘inseparable’ from 7-year-old son

Click to play video: 'Tamara Lovett Trial: Tamara’s father says Ryan and her were ‘inseparable’'
Tamara Lovett Trial: Tamara’s father says Ryan and her were ‘inseparable’
WATCH: Tamara Lovett’s father Don took the stand Tuesday at the trial in the death of her son Ryan. Global’s Tracy Nagai reports – Dec 6, 2016

The father of Calgary mother Tamara Lovett, on trial after her son died of a strep infection, wiped away tears Tuesday as he testified that his daughter and grandson were inseparable.

Don Lovett, a communications consultant, was one of a number of character witnesses called by the defence at Lovett’s trial.

“She was my daughter. I love her. We saw each other fairly regularly,” the father said Tuesday.

“Tamara and Ryan were a unit. He loved his mother. He wanted to be with his mother. They were inseparable. It was a very respectful, loving relationship.”

READ MORE: Calgary mother arrested after 7-year-old son’s death

Ryan Lovett. Provided to Global News

Lovett, 47, is on trial for failing to provide her seven-year-old son with the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing his death.

Story continues below advertisement

Ryan Alexander Lovett died in March 2013 after getting a strep infection that kept him bedridden for 10 days.

Alberta’s acting chief medical examiner testified the boy’s body was full of group A streptococcus, which caused most of his major organs to deteriorate and fail.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Court has heard Lovett treated Ryan with dandelion tea and oil of oregano instead of taking him to hospital.

Don said he never had any reason to worry about his grandson’s safety.

READ MORE: Tamara Lovett trial: ‘every organ’ in 7-year-old son’s body started to fail

“He was healthy … in my estimation well cared for and healthy. I didn’t witness any ill health.”

Story continues below advertisement

He said he wasn’t aware how ill his grandson had been and relied on information from the boy’s mother.

Paul Hughes, who said he met Tamara Lovett in university, said he remained friends with her and their two boys were close. He said she was a terrific parent.

“I was somewhat envious of Tamara’s capacity as a mother to interact with children. I only ever saw her being a loving and caring mother to her child,” he said.

“What kind of mother was Tamara? Well always around, within close proximity. I wouldn’t describe her as a helicopter parent per se, but she was pretty close. Always keeping an eye on him.”

Ryan Lovett. Provided to Global News

Outside court, Hughes said he felt he needed to testify on his friend’s behalf.

Story continues below advertisement

“I was really disturbed by some of the things that I heard people say about her as a mother and I knew completely differently. She’s a loving mother and was a loving mother and a parent’s worst nightmare happened to her,” Hughes said.

“Her community has rallied around her. We love her. She’s got her own life sentence. No one’s suffered more than her. She’s already suffered. She’s gone to hell and back.”

Closing arguments in the case are to be heard Friday.

Justice Kristine Eidsvik said she would reserve her decision and come back with a verdict in the new year.

Story continues below advertisement

She also addressed Lovett.

“I’m sorry for your loss — one way or another,” she said in reference to the upcoming verdict.

“It’s very sad.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices