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Canada  

Couple's fate in jury's hands

A jury will resume deliberations on Saturday in the case of a Regina couple accused of killing a four-year-old girl in their care and neglecting her younger sister.

The jury must decide if Tammy and Kevin Goforth purposely hurt the girls and denied them food.

The Goforths face charges of second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Lawyers for the couple said during closing arguments on Thursday that the Crown hasn't proven the pair intended to harm the children.

The prosecutor argued the girls weren't given enough food and anyone could have seen they were wasting away.

The two-year-old sister survived, but the four-year-old died in hospital in August 2012 from a brain injury after cardiac arrest.

Court heard both girls were malnourished and dehydrated when they arrived at the hospital.

Justice Ellen Gunn gave specific instructions Friday morning on how the jurors must reach their conclusion.

Gunn said the question comes down to intent and reasonable doubt. She also said that if the jury finds there's not enough evidence to support a second-degree murder conviction, the option of manslaughter is open.

The jury retired for the evening at about 10 p.m. Friday.

(CJME)



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