Calgary teen Alex Radita's final birthday photos released by judge at parents' murder trial

Photos of Alex Radita at his 15th birthday party in January 2013 show he was emaciated more than three months before being found dead at home, weighing just 37 pounds.

Court of Queen's BenchJustice Karen Horner,who is presiding over the first-degree murder trial of Alex's parentsRodica, 53,and Emil Radita, 59,granted a request by theCBC and othermediafor the photos to be released.

• Alex Radita, 15, weighed 37 pounds when he died, murder trial hears
• Radita murder trial: teen suffered for months leading to death, diabetes expert testifies

TheRaditas, who oncelived inB.C., had their son seized by social services in that province in 2004after he nearly died from untreateddiabetes the same allegations they nowfacein relation to his death, according toprosecutor Susan Pepper.

The testimony of Dr.DanielePacaud, a University of Calgary professor who works at the Alberta Children's Hospital,continued through Thursday after she took the stand Wednesday morning.

The pediatric diabetes expertsaid Alex's height and weight at the time of his deathput him in less than the first percentile of children his age, according to data used by the World Health Organization.

Aside from being emaciated, Alex was also covered in about 30 bedsores. Pacaud testified that he should have been seen by a medical professional after the first one occurred.

One of the necrotic sores was on his neck and was so deep it appeared to be down to the bone and would have required surgery to treat.Pacaud testified it would have taken weeks or months to reach that state.

But under cross-examination,Pacaud told Andrea Serink, Rodica's lawyer, that dating bedsores is very difficult and could not nail down a timeline for when Alex developed thewounds.

She said she did not take into account Alex's family history when forming her report relating to the condition of his teeth, or when she placed him in less than the first percentile of children based on his height and weight.

On Wednesday, Pacaudtestified Alex's teeth were in "extremely poor shape."

Jim Lutz, who representsEmil Radita did not have any questions for Pacaud.

Court heard evidence on the first day of the trialthatEMS encountered about 20 people who were inside, kneeling, chanting and prayingwhencalled to the family's home in May 2013, according to paramedic Deborah Baumback's testimony.

Policesaid at the time that Alex,who had Type-1 diabetes, died from a bacterial infection that arosefrom complications stemming from neglect and starvation.

The Raditas had several adult children who also lived in the home, but none of them werecharged.

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