Trial begins for woman accused of murdering daughter in Saskatoon

The trial of 53-year-old Frances Rose Sugar got underway Monday in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.

Frances is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her daughter Lindey Sugar, who was 34 years old when she died on June 23, 2014.

Court heard testimony from a couple who said they came upon Lindey as she lay dying in a ditch near the base of their driveway.

Diane and Norbert Cyca both testified they were heading out to walk their dogs after supper on June 23, 2014, when they heard shouting coming from behind some trees at the edge of their property, an acreage a few kilometres south of Saskatoon near the intersection of Clarence Avenue South and Victor Road.

Diane told the court she rushed down to see what was going on as Norbert went to put the couple’s dogs in the garage, fearing they would run out onto the road.

Diane testified that she came upon Lindey lying in the ditch covered in blood and being tended to by an older man, who identified himself as a friend of Lindey’s named Dennis.

Diane said she remembered an older woman, presumably Frances, walking past her and saying ‘call the ****ing cops’ before continuing to walk north along the grid road towards Saskatoon.

Norbert had a hard time getting through parts of his testimony as he recalled coming to the scene once the dogs were put away. One relative of Lindey Sugar’s burst into tears and had to be helped out of the courtroom by supporters as Norbert described hearing the difficulty Lindey was having breathing as his wife and Dennis made frantic efforts to give CPR and staunch bleeding in a wound in her neck.

He said he was fairly certain he heard Lindey stop breathing before emergency crews arrived to take over.

Norbert also testified to seeing an older woman walk away from the scene headed back towards the city.

The trial will resume on Tuesday morning.