In a testament to the human spirit, a two-year-old Ottawa boy fended for himself in a small public-housing unit for 10 days in March 2017 — there was cereal and cat food on the floor — after his mother was raped, strangled to death and left in the bathtub.
His mother’s accused killer, crack-cocaine salesman Mohamed Barkhadle, is now on trial for first-degree murder.
The jury, two women and 10 men, heard on Wednesday from Ottawa police forensic ident specialist Det. Chantal Pombert, who gave a no-detail-too-small account of the bloody crime scene.
Police believe the boy lived on floor servings of Cheerios and Shreddies, and even pushed a stool to reach the bathroom sink to draw water into his trusty Star Wars cup. (The boy was an arm’s length from his dead mom in the bathtub.)
Barkhadle is on trial for the March 12, 2017, killing of a 35-year-old single mom. (Her identity and her son’s are shielded by a publication ban.)
Ottawa Crown Attorney Carl Lem told the jury early on in the trial that he hoped the boy was too young to remember what happened.
“In life, (the victim) didn’t have it easy, but she did as best as she could,” Lem told the jury in opening remarks earlier this year with Ontario Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips presiding.
Her demon was addiction, and her dealer was Barkhadle, the jury heard.
The police theory and investigation — led by Detectives Sgt. Nicole McGetrick and Kevin Jacobs — has since been adopted by the Crown.
The theory is that Barkhadle, before going over to the victim’s apartment, first sent her texts intended to divert suspicion. Then, once she let him in, he took sexually explicit photos of her on his cell phone, raped her, strangled her and left her in the bathtub. He stole her bank card and closed the door on the way out, leaving a two-year-old boy to fend for himself.
Lem outlined the evidence the jury will hear in the case, built on pathology, DNA analysis, cell phone records, banking records and security video from the building in Mechanicsville.
Nothing has been proved in court, and Barkhadle is represented by defence lawyer Michale Johnston.
The trial, which began in the spring, is expected to last several more weeks.
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