A 36-year-old woman has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of her young daughter in Montreal’s east end.
The woman’s court appearance took place by phone because she remains in hospital, according to her lawyers.
“My client is still in hospital,” lawyer Elfriede Duclervil told reporters at the Montreal courthouse Friday. “She appeared. She was still in her bed.”
Montreal police found a six-year-old girl inside the apartment on Desautels Street in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood early Thursday morning. They were called around 3 a.m. after screams were heard.
The little girl was taken to hospital in critical condition, but was later pronounced dead.
When police arrived at the scene, the girl’s mother was outside the apartment building. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries, but police say her condition did not allow investigators to meet with her until late in the evening.
Police arrested her late Thursday night. It is Montreal’s 11th homicide of the year, police say.
The woman will remain in hospital before being transferred to a detention centre while awaiting her next court date, which is set for Aug. 19. A publication ban was issued to protect the victim’s identity, which also covers the mother by extension.
Duclervil said it was “premature” to say whether she will request a psychological evaluation for her client.
— With files from Global News’ Benson Cook and the Canadian Press
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