Grisly details emerge during first day of Kirsten Lamb's murder trial
The jury was shown photos of a blood-soaked laundry room on the first day of the Kirsten Lamb murder trial in Edmonton
Lamb, 32, is charged with second-degree murder in the the November 2010 death of her mother, Sandra.
Crown prosecutor Danielle Green revealed the victim was a 49-year-old pipefitter who lived with her dog, Rowdy, in a modest bungalow in the Capilano neighbourhood.
Even though she was well thought of by her co-workers, Green said the victim did have a "negative past" that had "created rifts and resentment."
Sometime between Nov. 27 and 29 in 2010, Sandra was killed at her home in Edmonton, Green told court. A neighbour suspected something was wrong and called police on the 29th.
"When police entered Sandra's residence, they found a trail of blood that led them to the basement," Green said. That's where police found her body.
"She had been beaten about the head and face, and her throat had been cut."
The jury was warned about the graphic nature of some of the photos before viewing them.
The images depict blood stains in the main floor kitchen, on the counters, walls and even on a light over the kitchen table. There's blood on a knife block and it appears knives are missing.
The blood trail continues down the stairs and is at its worst in the laundry room.
"She sustained a fair amount of trauma to her head," Const. John Bourgeois told the jury.
The officer also showed the 7 men and 5 women a photo of a tooth in the laundry room with part of the victim's jaw attached along with a shot of clumps of hair and blood outside the house.
Green said police recovered hair in Sandra's home and on her back deck. Strands of hair were also found on the victim's arm and pants.
The jury has been told DNA results from hair and blood at the crime scene matched the accused's DNA.
Kirsten was arrested on Dec. 26, 2010 at her home in Rosalind, Alta., a village two hours southeast of Edmonton..
But Crown prosecutor Green admitted there was no witness to the alleged crime, so this is a circumstantial case.
"This is not an easy case to hear or decide upon," she told the jury. "There will be evidence called that may result in emotional reactions".
There will be 30 witnesses called throughout the trial.
Justice Paul Belzil hinted the accused's lawyer, Mona Duckett, may raise the defence her client being not criminally responsible. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Lamb still refuses to believe her mother is dead.
Eighteen months ago, a jury decided her mental state was so disturbed she could not be tried fairly.
She was refusing anti-psychotic medication because she was pregnant at the time.
After delivering her child, Lamb went on the medication. Doctors say her mental condition has stabilized.
Last week, a different jury of seven men and five women found that she is now fit to stand trial. That same jury will determine whether she is guilty or not guilty of second-degree murder.
It's not known if she will testify at her own trial.
janice.johnston@cbc.ca
@cbcjanjohnston
