TORONTO — The coroner's inquest into the death of seven-year-old Toronto girl at the hands of her guardians is hearing she was once struck so hard that her liver ruptured.
The forensic pathologist who performed Katelynn Sampson's autopsy says she suffered multiple injuries in the weeks and months before her death on Aug. 3, 2008.
But Dr. David Chiasson says none would have been fatal had she received medical treatment, and it was the complications from those injuries that killed her.
The coroner's inquest listened Monday to the 911 call that led paramedics to Katelynn's bruised and battered body in a Toronto apartment.
On the early morning call, Katelynn's guardian, Donna Irving, could be heard sobbing as she told the operator the girl had choked to death on bread.
Irving and Katelynn's other guardian, Warren Johnson, were convicted three years ago of second-degree murder in the girl's death and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.
Katelynn's mother, Bernice Sampson, says she hopes the inquest will ensure no other child will suffer the same fate as her daughter.
"At least when this is all done, Katelynn will rest, she'll be at peace, and then hopefully I will get some peace,'' she said outside court.
Sampson was addicted to crack and gave her daughter to Johnson and Irving in a misguided attempt to save Katelynn.
It was later revealed that a judge granted custody to Irving despite her criminal convictions for prostitution, drugs and violence.
The inquest heard Monday from Wendy Walker, a Toronto paramedic who responded to the 911 call. Walker and her partner found Katelynn lying on her back on the living room floor, her arms stretched above her head, the paramedic testified.
Walker's partner bent over the girl to assess her condition, then shook his head, indicating they would not attempt resuscitation, she said.
That alone suggested Katelynn "had passed away quite some time ago,'' Walker told the inquest.
