WARNING: Some details in this article are disturbing.
A 33-year-old Fort Saskatchewan man charged with second-degree murder in the death of his infant son took the stand in his own defence Tuesday.
Damien Starrett was watching his two children at the family’s Fort Saskatchewan home while their mother was at work in November 2019.
Starrett told court Tuesday he has no recollection of the attack that killed his one-year-old son, Ares. He said the last thing he remembers was lying on the couch.
“It’s like I just got teleported in time,” Starrett said.
He told court his daughter was curled up in a ball on the floor, looking scared.
“There’s Ares on the f—— ground. I’m like: ‘What the f— just happened?'”
He told court he saw his son on the ground. Starrett said he asked himself what happened, wondering if Ares had fallen down or hit his head.
“I’m looking at Ares and he’s bleeding. I was so in shock. Shock and confusion and I didn’t know what to do.”
Starrett said he asked his daughter if she did it, but she told him he had hit Ares. The accused told court he was freaking out and starting calling for help. He said he called the children’s mother, friends and 911.
In the 911 recording, Starrett repeatedly tells the dispatcher: “My son is dying.” Screams can be heard on the call as the boy’s mother arrives.
Starrett told court he’d taken six Percocet pills in a five-hour period that day for back pain.
The defence has said Starrett did kill his son but argues he’s not criminally responsible because he was in a sleep-like state.
The 33-year-old told court he’s struggled with insomnia his whole life, seen various doctors and taken multiple medications to address it. He said he now has night terrors and is afraid something like this could happen again.
Starrett is also charged with assaulting his five-year-old daughter.
His testimony will continue Wednesday morning.
The jury has been removed and Starrett is being tried by judge alone.
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