In a courtroom testimony on Wednesday, Mathieu Moreau, a Winnipeg father charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault in connection to the death of his infant son, maintained his innocence, vehemently denying allegations that he caused harm to the three-month-old boy.
Moreau, 34, emotionally recounted the events of January 11, 2020, when his son, Maven Gillis Moreau, was rushed to a Winnipeg hospital. Fighting back tears, he described waking from a nap to find Maven making distressing sounds, with infant formula emanating from his mouth and nose.
Testifying in his own defense, Moreau explained that upon discovering Maven’s condition, he promptly attempted to alleviate the situation by burping him. However, he noticed the baby struggling to breathe, prompting him to call for medical assistance after contacting his partner’s parents, who lived nearby.
During a thorough cross-examination led by prosecutor Jennifer Mann, Moreau faced accusations of violently shaking Maven due to frustration and exhaustion. Mann painted a stark contrast to Moreau’s narrative, suggesting that the father, overwhelmed by his responsibilities and irked by an interruption to his band rehearsal, inflicted fatal injuries upon his son.
Allegations were made that Moreau deliberately harmed Maven on multiple occasions, including an incident where the baby sustained black eyes and another where he suffered a torn frenulum. Moreau adamantly refuted each claim, attributing the injuries to accidents.
Under scrutiny, Moreau denied assertions made by the baby’s maternal grandmother, Micheline Gillis, regarding statements allegedly made in the hospital on the day of the incident. Despite Micheline Gillis’s recollection of Moreau expressing concerns about potential blame from authorities, Moreau maintained no memory of such statements.
Bruce Bonney, Moreau’s defense lawyer, echoed his client’s denial of intentional harm and pressed for clarity on conflicting testimonies presented during the trial. Bonney previously accused Micheline Gillis of selective memory, suggesting her recollections were influenced by bias.
The trial, which commenced on March 4, is set to conclude with closing arguments on Friday, as Moreau continues to proclaim his innocence in the tragic death of his infant son.
