CALGARY - Suspected baby killer Lisa Guerin denied Thursday she abandoned her poisoned daughter and left her to die.
Guerin, testifying in her Calgary manslaughter trial, said she left her Southwood home the afternoon of April 29, 2006, to go work as a stripper in Rocky Mountain House, unaware of any health problems for her daughter.
She told defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli she left the girl in the care of her then-husband, Jonathan Hope, when she and her friend, Amanda MacDonald, went to a weekend exotic-dancing gig in central Alberta.
Guerin said Hope was the primary caregiver for their two children, while she provided for the family by working as a stripper.
Both parents face manslaughter charges in connection with the death that evening of 16-month-old Summer Hope to a methadone overdose.
They also face allegations of criminal negligence and failing their parental duties.
Guerin denied allegations by MacDonald she was aware the toddler had consumed methadone and had argued with Hope over whose fault it was.
"Did you have any knowledge prior to leaving the apartment that Summer had ingested methadone?" Iovinelli asked.
"No, I did not," Guerin said.
She also denied she didn't check on her two kids that entire weekend, explaining her cellphone had died.
When she was able to call home two days later, she was given the tragic news.
Later, Hope's mother, Patricia, said Summer "could've died from SIDS, or Jonathan might have rolled over on her while he was sleeping."
After Summer's funeral, Guerin said she kicked Hope out of the basement suite they shared. Guerin said before the girl's death she never took hard drugs, but started using cocaine and crystal meth after the tragedy.
Justice Earl Wilson will hand down a verdict in the case Friday afternoon.
kevin.martin@sunmedia.ca
