Girl, 5, likely killed because she witnessed mother's murder, Crown tells jurors

Five-year-old Taliyah Marsman was likely killed because she witnessed her mother's murder, the prosecution told jurors on Day 1 of Edward Downey's trial, which got underway Monday in Calgary.

Downey, 48, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Taliyah and her mother, Sara Baillie, 34, whowere killed July 2016.

Baillie's body was found stuffed in a laundry hamper in her daughter's bedroom in thebasement apartment they shared in northwest Calgary.

Downey's fingerprints were on the duct tape that had been wrapped around her head.

'Old enough to ID her mother's killer'

Prosecutor Carla MacPhail told jurors the Crown's theory is that Taliyah witnessed Downey killing her mother.

"She was almost six, old enough to identify her mother's killer, especially if she knew him."

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Taliyahdid know Downey he was the boyfriend of Baillie'sbest friend.

The Crown's theory is thatBailliemay have beenkilled because she was trying to rescue her best friend a woman who can only be identified as AB from life as an escort and from her abusive relationship with Downey.

Baillie had witnessed Downey punching AB in the face a month before her death. Downey had texted friends about his displeasure with Baillie.

On July 10, 2016, the day before Baillie's body was discovered, ABtexted Downey, telling him: "It's time to pack your bags, I'm ending this relationship."

"This was the breaking point," MacPhailtold the jury. "You will be asked to consider what impact this had on Mr. Downey."

Downey had also "taken steps toward [AB]working as escort but she decided she did not want to do it."

In a text message to a friend, Downey wrote: "I'm down to one bitch and she's square I had her hanging with that white one."

MacPhailsuggested Downey blamedBailliefor his breakup and because AB had decided she did not want to workas a prostitute for him.

'We heard him gasp'

Officers went to her home in the northwest community of Panorama Hills to check on her at the family's request.

The day after the breakup text message, AB who worked at Taliyah's daycare became concerned when the child didn't arrive by 10:30 a.m. It was at that point AB discovered Baillie also hadn't shown up at her job at the Airport Chili's Restaurant.

ABbegan alerting Baillie's family, who called police.

MarilynneHamilton,Baillie'saunt, was one of the concerned family members who had arrived at her niece'shome hoping to find out why she had failed to show up for work.

Hamiltondescribed the moment a Calgary police officer discoveredBaillie'sbody inTaliyah'sbedroom.

"We heard him gasp, he told us not to come in," she said through sobs.

Taliyahmissing

Duct tape was wrapped "around and around and around,Baillie'shead, face, neck and wrists, said prosecutor MacPhail.

A bone in Baillie's neck was broken, her body was bruised and battered and she'd suffered injuries to her face.

Baillie's five-year-old daughter, Taliyah, was missing from their basement apartment.

MacPhail told the jurors they will hear evidence that on the day the 34-year-old mother'sbody was discovered, neighbours witnessed a short, stocky man escort a child out of Baillie's white car into a car matching the description of AB's.

The night before Taliyahdisappeared, she had FaceTimedwith her father, ColinMarsman, to show him she had lost a tooth.

The girl's beloved iPad remained on her bed.

An Amber Alert was activated and distraught family members made public pleas through the media for the safe return of the girl.

Cellphone evidence

Three days later, investigators discovered Taliyah's body on a rural property, in a stand of bushes,about eightkilometres east of Calgary.

She had been asphyxiated.

Downey's cellphone was forensically examined. Police discovered it had been nearBaillie's home the Monday morning that her body was discovered and then in then rural area where Taliyah's body was found later in the day.

In fact, it was Downey'scellphone data that police used to help find the child's body, said MacPhail.

Downey was charged with two counts of first-degree murder the same day that Taliyah's body was found.

On Monday morning, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Beth Hughesdeliveredan opening address to jurors.

Downeyis represented by defence lawyers Gavin Wolch and Meryl Friedland.

A jury of seven women, five menwas selected last Wednesday.

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