SAGUENAY, Que. – The Quebec mother charged with the first-degree murder of her children told her trial Tuesday that her husband changed dramatically in the weeks leading to the tragic events.
Cathie Gauthier, 35, is facing three charges of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her children: Joelle, 12; Marc-Ange, 7; and Louis-Philippe, 4.
The Crown alleges Gauthier and her husband Marc Laliberte had a murder-suicide pact that unfolded in Chicoutimi on New Years’ Eve. Laliberte, 46, was found dead on the bedroom floor with a knife next to him while the children were discovered lifeless in their parents’ bed.
Gauthier sustained knife injuries.
Gauthier took the stand Tuesday in her defence and told the jury Laliberte was the "perfect husband" until mid-November 2008. "He became impatient and got angry with almost anything," she said. "He even started to rough up the kids."
She said she threatened to leave Laliberte but changed her mind when, according to her, he said she would never see her children again if she left him.
Gauthier cried several times while talking about her children but kept her composure.
She said she was hoping the situation with her husband and the couple’s financial problems would be resolved. "I wanted to get my husband back," she said.
Gauthier told the jury the couple was spending more money than they earned and filed for bankruptcy in October. At that time, both parents were out of work.
She also testified she has been diagnosed with a borderline personality.
Gauthier’s testimony will resume Tuesday afternoon.
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