By Courtney Markewich

Adam Cyr guilty of second-degree murder in toddler’s death

Jan 29, 2015 | 9:44 AM

Adam Cyr has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of a Regina toddler in June 2012.

Cyr was lead into the prisoner’s box of a Regina court room Thursday morning after a jury reached their verdict. They had deliberated for less than nine hours. Cyr stared at the door where the judge would walk through as he waited to learn the jury’s decision.

The courtroom was filled that morning as people waited for the conclusion of the trial that first began on Jan. 5. A few members of Cyr’s family sat in the room along with family of Natalia Shingoose.

Shingoose died from injuries that resulted from blunt force trauma nearly three years ago. She was already dead when police arrived at a house on the 600 block of Garnet Street on June 21, 2012. Cyr was charged in her death the following morning.

For more than three weeks, the jury heard the details of the night Natalia died, including three days of testimony from her mother, Amanda Trevors.

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

16h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

16h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

21h ago

Trevors clutched a picture of her daughter as the jury filed into the room to deliver their verdict. As the word ‘guilty’ was said, Trevors and her supporters erupted into a brief cry of joy. Cyr bent forward as he sat in the prisoner’s box, resting his head in his hands as he wept quietly. Gentle cries could be heard from Cyr’s family in the room.

As the jury was led out of the room, Trevors told the three men and nine women, “thank you.”

Not the end

Cyr’s lawyer, Bob Hyrcan, was the first to leave the building following the verdict telling the media that he believes the jury convicted an innocent man.

“The jury was instructed that they were only to convict if Cyr’s guilt was the only rational inference they could come to,” Hyrcan said.

“Obviously there’s going to be an appeal.”

Relief for Natalia’s family

As the Crown prosecutor left, he told the media that he hoped the verdict would bring relief for Natalia’s entire family.

“They were confronted with a lot of very difficult accusations and we thought that they persevered through this and handled themselves very well,” James Fitz-Gerald said.

Trevors’ elation was evident as she walked to her vehicle parked in front of the court house. She and her supporters cheered “guilty” as they exchanged hugs and pulled pictures of Natalia from the vehicle.

“Natalia got her justice,” Trevors said.

“The weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I no longer needed to be Natalia’s voice.”

Trevors won’t have to return to court until Cyr is sentenced on May 1.

Sentencing law states those convicted of second degree murder must be sentenced to life in prison. Parole eligibility can begin after serving between 10 to 25 years. 

news@panow.com 

On Twitter: @princealbertnow