Emotional day in court as manslaughter trial begins for man accused in death of 3-month-old son

WARNING: This story contains graphic details.

Monday was a day full of emotion as the trial of a man accused in the death of his three-month-old son began. 

Catlin Wade Goodwill is charged with manslaughter in the death of Keenan Spencer in October 2017. The trial is being held in front of Justice Keith Kilback at Court of King's Bench in Regina. 

Testimony on Monday morning focused on the initial response from police and emergency officials on the evening of Oct. 14, 2017. 

During the testimony of Jodeci Spencer, Keenan's mother, Jodeci herself, multiple people in the gallery and the accused all broke down in tears. 

Jodeci told the court that her relationship with Goodwill was on-and-off. She had two other sons with Goodwill, including one born after Keenan's death. 

While they are no longer together, on the day of Keenan's death — Oct. 14 — they had recently reconciled and moved in together. 

That weekend Jodeci was attending a court-ordered DWI course and Goodwill was taking care of Keenan while Jodeci's mother cared for her older son. 

Jodeci testified that Keenan was an easygoing child who rarely fussed, had a healthy appetite and calmed down fairly quickly if he began crying. 

It was only later that evening once she returned home from the course that she saw the first indications that something was wrong. 

She testified that she was reading to her older son at their home in the 3700 block of Regency Crescent when Goodwill told her, from another room, that Keenan was no longer breathing. 

She called 911, and paramedics rushed the baby to the Regina General Hospital, where he was declared dead. 

Officer testifies

Const. Melissa Gregory of the Regina Police Service, a member of the forensic identification unit, testified that around 10:55 p.m. CST she was called to hospital to take photographs of Keenan.

Gregory's testimony included descriptions of the photos she took that night. 

She said there was bruising on the child's chest as a result of attempted CPR from emergency responders. She was also directed by the coroner to pay special attention to bruises on the side of Keenan's chest, she said, as well as reddish marks and additional bruising in the groin area, found once the child's diaper was removed.

There was also a small round purplish mark on Keenan's temple, and bruising and discoloured skin on the back of the three-month old's head, Gregory said. 

She also seized the sleeper and diaper that Keenan was wearing when he arrived at the hospital.

Gregory then took photos at the home in the 3700 block of Regency Crescent to document the scene. 

Under cross-examination by defence attorney Bruce Campbell, Jodeci confirmed that she told police on Oct. 14 that she had never seen Goodwill be violent with their children. 

She also confirmed that at some point — at an unspecified date — she and Goodwill were arrested but not charged as part of the investigation. 

Goodwill was not charged with manslaughter until 2019. He was taken into custody shortly after Regina police issued a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest on Aug. 26, 2019.

The court has yet to hear what prompted the decision to make that arrest. 

Senior Crown prosecutor Chris White confirmed he plans to call a series of experts when the trial resumes on Tuesday.

The trial is scheduled to run through the week.