Gabriel Joseph Faucher says he didn’t take his girlfriend, 36-year-old Beverly Littlecrow, to a hospital after she hit her head on porch steps because she didn’t want to to go.
“She seemed fine; she just wanted to relax,” Faucher, 45, said on Thursday as he was cross-examined at his manslaughter trial in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.
Faucher said Littlecrow was prone to falling because she had a prior brain injury. That would be even more of a reason to seek help, Crown prosecutor Mitch Piche said, suggesting that didn’t happen because there was no fall.
The two-week, judge-alone trial has heard Faucher initially told first responders and hospital staff that Littlecrow fell on their outdoor steps three days before he found her unconscious in their home near Kinley, Sask., on Jan. 24, 2016.
Faucher testified he was in shock and did not mention what he later told police: that he heard a bang early that morning and felt his girlfriend collapse on him in bed. He said her head must have hit the wall above their bed because there was a large dent.
Piche presented the Crown’s theory that Faucher punched Littlecrow in the head during a two-day assault — partially based on testimony from a girl who said she witnessed a fight — causing her to die from a brain bleed. Piche said the hole was either made with Faucher’s fist, or by punching Littlecrow’s head into the wall.
“You got a big imagination Mr. Piche,” Faucher replied.
Earlier in the trial, the victim’s mother said Littlecrow told her she was afraid to move to B.C. with Faucher because he might kill her — evidence that’s yet to be made admissible at the trial. Faucher testified Littlecrow wanted to come with him.
Piche accused Faucher of isolating Littlecrow on an acreage where she had no family, driver’s licence or job. He said it was affordable and her family never visited when they lived in Saskatoon.
Submitted photo of Beverly Littlecrow.
Earlier on Thursday, Dr. Thomas Gill, an American forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, testified for the defence.
Basing his findings on autopsy reports and photos, Gill said he concluded there was no evidence to prove Littlecrow’s facial injuries were made by a fist. Instead, he said the injuries were consistent with a “glancing blow” that could have happened when she fell on the stairs and hit her head on a post.
Defence lawyer Andrew Mason asked if Littlecrow could have died from hitting her head on the wall. Gill said yes.