Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Abuse led to stabbing: accused
Killed her husband with paring knife
WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg woman who claims she killed her husband in self-defence broke down in tears Wednesday as she described their final, fatal moments together.
Virginia Hernando told court years of verbal, physical and sexual abuse resulted in her "accidentally" sticking a paring knife into her husband's chest, penetrating his heart.
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"I loved him. My dream was for us to grow old together," an emotional Hernando told court while testifying in her own defence.
Hernando, 61, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter on the grounds her life was in danger during the September 2006 dispute inside the couple's Fort Garry home.
She described meeting her victim, Alejandro Hernando, when both were still teens living in the Philippines. They eloped in 1969, then immigrated to Canada in 1977. The couple has four children and three grandchildren. Hernando said their relationship turned sour when her husband began drinking heavily.
"He would verbally abuse me, sometimes he would beat me," she said. "He would pull my hair... one time he burned me with a lit cigarette." Alejandro also began demanding sex from her and had an affair with another woman, she said.
"He would force himself on me... then he'd just laugh about it and say 'rape, rape, rape,'" said Hernando. He also began mocking her appearance, calling her a "fat pig" and telling her not to eat so much, she said.
On the night of the killing, the couple had been arguing over their finances. Alejandro wanted to send money to a sick relative back in the Philippines, but Hernando said they didn't have the funds. She said her husband got drunk and began threatening her.
"He said, 'If you don't get the money tomorrow, I'll kill you,'" she said. "He was really drunk, really mad, grinding his teeth."
Hernando told court she ran upstairs for safety and grabbed a small paring knife she had kept hidden for fear of being attacked by her husband.
"I didn't want him to see me cry. By not showing him me crying... it would make me strong," she said.
Alejandro followed her upstairs and began assaulting her. Hernando said she was holding the knife down at her side but it somehow went into her husband during the struggle. She said she was shocked when blood started pouring from his chest. She tried to help her husband but he continued to swear at her and went downstairs to lie on the couch. She eventually called her sister, then 911 for help. The victim was rushed to hospital but died shortly after arrival.
"I just wanted to save him," said Hernando.
She often thought about ending the 37-year marriage and briefly moved out of the home years earlier, only to return. Hernando said she felt "embarrassed" to tell others what was happening in the home and a sense of duty to remain with her husband based on their Catholic faith and an obligation to their children. Hernando said she once tried to call police to report abuse but her husband disconnected the phone before the call went through.
Defence lawyer Sandy Chapman filed a motion Tuesday to have the case dismissed against her client based on a lack of Crown evidence. Queen's Bench Justice Glenn Joyal refused.
The Crown closed its case against Hernando after calling just three witnesses -- an identification officer who described the scene, a homicide detective who interviewed Hernando, and the woman's sister. The Crown is expected to cross-examine Hernando this morning. Chapman then plans to call a psychologist who has worked with the accused since the killing.
Closing arguments are expected Friday.
www.mikeoncrime.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 18, 2009 B1
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