The defence in the trial of a Victoria woman accused of murdering her 18-month-old daughter rested Thursday after the prosecutor spent the day challenging the testimony of her treating psychiatrist.
Kaela Mehl, 34, has pleaded not guilty to first degree murder in the Sept. 16, 2015 death of Charlotte Cunningham, but admitted to killing the toddler by feeding her yogurt mixed with sleeping pills and smothering her.
Dr. David Yaxley, who testified Wednesday that MehlB次元官网网址檚 draft suicide note served as a window onto her state of mind at the time she killed her daughter, was to be the last witness to testify in what looks to be a four-week murder trial.
Crown lawyer Kimberly Henders Miller put to Yaxley that Mehl was task-oriented, her email succinct, and that she researched zopiclone doses for 12 minutes all while carrying on multiple conversations with family and friends by text and email B次元官网网址� some of which were sexually-explicit B次元官网网址� in the time leading up to her daughterB次元官网网址檚 death. She said the letter is indicative of a person who chooses their words carefully and deliberately.
RELATED:
B次元官网网址淎ll of these actions are directed to the goal of ending her life and the life of Charlotte B次元官网网址� she is aware of what she is doing, her letter explains why she is doing it,B次元官网网址� Henders Miller said.
Yaxley agreed.
B次元官网网址淗er actions were performed for the very purpose of ending two lives,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 correct,B次元官网网址� Yaxley responded.
Earlier Thursday, Henders Miller questioned Yaxley about whether his duty to his client constrained his ability to give impartial testimony, and whether his characterization of events around the time of CharlotteB次元官网网址檚 death was accurate. She asked whether his understanding of MehlB次元官网网址檚 mental state at the time she killed her daughter was clouded by their months of sessions prior to viewing evidence.
Mehl did not completely discuss the events of the night Charlotte died with her psychiatrist until she was given legal permission.
The Crown questioned Yaxley on MehlB次元官网网址檚 surveilling her ex-husband Daniel Cunningham, his family and those around him, and about how Mehl had put a tracking device in CharlotteB次元官网网址檚 stuffed animal. She questioned his characterization of her behaviour as concern for CharlotteB次元官网网址檚 well-being.
RELATED:
Henders Miller said Mehl described watching a woman leaving CunninghamB次元官网网址檚 house as B次元官网网址渞econ.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲ere you aware that she followed a woman coming out of the house and got out and started taking pictures of her?B次元官网网址� she asked Yaxley. B次元官网网址淗ow does following a woman coming out of DanB次元官网网址檚 house have to do with Charlotte?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 believe the motivation she was using, in this [custody] battle, is she was looking for evidence to discredit. She is looking for something she can use in this battle,B次元官网网址� Yaxley responded.
The court heard MehlB次元官网网址檚 main driving force keeping her alive now is to tell her story, that her state of mind declined, that she wanted understanding about the stresses she experienced in the time leading up to killing her daughter, and that she experienced a lack of support from police and the court system. Yaxley agreed that Mehl was angry with the Cunningham family, and that she believed the courts and police B次元官网网址渇ailed her.B次元官网网址�
The jury returns Monday for the Crown and defenceB次元官网网址檚 closing arguments. The trial is expected to be completed by the end of next week.
Read Victoria B次元官网网址B次元官网网址� coverage of the Kaela Mehl murder trial
Oct. 4:
Oct. 4:
Oct. 3:
Sept 28:
Sept: 27:
Sept: 26:
Sept. 21:
Sept. 19:
Sept. 16:
Sept. 14:
Sept. 13:
Sept. 12:
