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Mother admits killing toddler in rage
16 Dec
Summary
- Mother pleaded guilty to manslaughter in her son's 2020 death.
- The child died from blunt head trauma after being thrown from a bed.
- The mother cited feeling overwhelmed and frustrated in a moment of anger.
April Wendy Marie Surette, 32, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the 2020 death of her 17-month-old son, Isaiha Surette. The toddler died at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax due to blunt head trauma, as determined by the province's chief medical examiner. The incident occurred on December 17, 2020, in their Yarmouth home.
An agreed statement of facts revealed that Surette, feeling overwhelmed, intentionally threw Isaiha from the bed onto the hardwood floor. This action caused the fatal brain trauma. Isaiha was initially taken to Yarmouth Regional Hospital before being airlifted to Halifax. He had recently been returned to Surette's care after a period in foster care.
Surette had expressed difficulties bonding with her son and had searched online for information related to his behavior. She is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on March 23, with the Crown and defence jointly recommending a six-year prison sentence. A second charge of failing to provide necessaries of life will be addressed at sentencing.
