Mike on Crime

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY – A Calgary woman whose daughter died of an overdose of methadone told court she had no idea the toddler had sipped from a cup that contained the powerful drug.

Lisa Guerin was testifying in her own defence after being charged with manslaughter in the death of 16-month-old Summer in April 2006.

She told court that she hugged the girl and her older brother before leaving for the weekend to work as an exotic dancer in central Alberta.

Guerin testified that she would have taken both children to hospital if she believed they had touched methadone.

A friend of Guerin’s has testified that both parents saw Summer with an orange stain on her chin and shirt and both assumed the girl had sipped the methadone – but did nothing.

Summer’s father, Jonathan Hope, is also charged with manslaughter but did not testify.