Mother charged with second-degree murder in Regina toddler’s death

A 35-month-old girl is Regina’s seventh murder victim of 2021 — and her mother has been charged in connection with the child’s death.

On Thursday, the Regina Police Service said 26-year-old Brittney Catherine Emma Burghardt and 24-year-old Justin Noah Paul Anderson have been charged in connection with the toddler’s death.

Burghardt was charged with second-degree murder and forcible confinement. Anderson was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and forcible confinement.

They were arrested Wednesday and made their first court appearances Thursday.

A police spokesperson confirmed Burghardt is the child’s mother and added Anderson is in a relationship with Burghardt, but isn’t the child’s biological father.

On June 9, officers went to a home in the 2300 block of Retallack Street for a call that a toddler had been seriously injured in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The child was taken to hospital by paramedics and then transported by air to Saskatoon. She died four days later.

The investigation into the girl’s death was carried out by the Regina Children’s Justice Centre — which comprises police, social workers, medical and justice personnel — and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Burghardt was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of manslaughter and forcible confinement on June 16, 2023. Anderson was given a two-year jail sentence on June 19, 2023 after pleading guilty to forcible confinement.