Manslaughter trial hears recording of accused praying for forgiveness

Jun 17, 2019 | 1:15 PM

CALGARY — A trial for a Calgary man charged in the death of his grandson has heard a recording of what appears to be the accused praying for forgiveness.

Allan Perdomo Lopez is charged with manslaughter in the July 2015 death of five-year-old Emilio Perdomo.

The trial has previously heard the boy died of blunt force brain trauma about a week after being rushed to hospital unconscious.

The Crown is playing 11 recordings made in the family’s home and vehicle.

In one from Sept. 5, 2015, Perdomo Lopez is heard apparently praying in Spanish and saying he “didn’t want to kill that child.”

An English translation was not read in court, but prosecutor Vicki Faulkner asked Sgt. Tony Acosta to verify the accuracy of a written transcript.

Acosta, whose first language is Spanish, testified the accused did not say “sorry” after the remark, as the transcript suggests, but instead made a reference to praying.

Acosta also confirmed the child Perdomo Lopez was referring to was a boy, not a girl.

The Canadian Press