Staff Sgt. Jeff Rowden with the Prince Albert Police Service was the next witness to take the stand in the trial of Jordan Crowe.
Crowe is charged with second degree murder for allegedly killing three-year-old Dilyn Donald back on Dec. 23, 2007.
Rowden was the lead investigator in the case, and showed the jury two taped interviews he conducted with Crowe.
The first interview was conducted on Dec. 24, 2007, shortly after Donald’s death, Crowe claimed he discovered Donald not breathing in his bed and called emergency services. Crowe said that aside from leaving Donald in a bathtub briefly to get a bottle for the baby, he couldn’t think of what would have caused the young boy’s death.
However, the second interview took place on Dec. 28, 2007, Rowden revealed the results of pathologist report which stated Donald died from blunt force trauma to his head. At first, Crowe gave the same story but Rowden said he believed Crowe did it.
Crowe repeatedly denied hitting Donald but eventually admitted using some force.
“When he was going to bed, I pushed him,” adding that Donald hit his head against the heat register. “I would never hurt my little boy,” he added.
On the tape, Rowden continued to ask for more details, stating there were several contusions on Donald’s head, but while Crowe admitted he became angry, he continued to deny hitting Donald.
“I’m not a savage,” Crowe said repeatedly in the interview.
Rowden then informed Crowe he was under arrest for murder, and allowed him to call a lawyer. Crowe refused a third interview without legal counsel.
Upon cross examination, Defence Lawyer Greg Chovin asked Rowden about the interviews he conducted with Dillon’s mother, Jeanine Donald.
Rowden told the court Jeanine showed much less emotion during the interviews than Crowe, who was at times almost hysterical. When asked about it, she said she had already cried so much it was hard for her to do so anymore.
Rowden said Jeanine claimed she had left the home for about 20 minutes to visit a friend. However, the friend denied her ever being her house and Jeanine confessed she had left for a longer period of time to work as a prostitute.
Jeanine will be taking the stand tomorrow afternoon.
rpilon@panow.com
