Jury sees autopsy photos in Saskatoon murder trial of Frances Sugar

Frances Sugar sobbed in the prisoner’s box when the jury in her murder trial was shown photos of wounds to her daughter’s throat, arm and leg taken during her autopsy.
 
The photos were shown during testimony by forensic pathologist Dr. Shaun Ladham, who conducted an autopsy on Lindey Sugar in June 2014. 
 
Frances is charged with second-degree murder in Lindey’s death.
 
Ladham told court the throat wound caused Lindey’s death, as it severed her carotid artery.
 
While witness testimony and Frances’ videotaped statement to RCMP suggested the pair fought before Lindey got stabbed, Ladham testified there were no marks on Lindey’s hand to suggest she’d been punching someone before she died.
 
Frances couldn’t bring herself to come back into the courtroom after the judge ordered a short break to allow her to regain her composure, this caused the judge to order an early midday break. 

Frances was back in the courtroom when the trial got back underway just before 2 p.m.
 
In the afternoon portion of the trial, Ladham discussed various small abrasions seen on Lindey’s body.

He said he couldn’t tell what caused them, but they most likely happened close to the time Lindey died.
 
Ladham said the cuts could have been caused by Lindey moving as she lay on the ground bleeding out.
 
Ladham testified that Lindey had alcohol, methadone, ritalin and traces of THC – the active compound in marijuana – in her system when she died. 
 
Ladham was the last witness before the Crown closed its case.
 
Frances Sugar’s defence will begin its case when court resumes Friday morning.