Suarez Noa murder trial day 6

Warning: The details of this story are disturbing.

The last of the evidence was heard today in the second degree murder trial of Haiden Suarez Noa; accused of stabbing his girlfriend Tania Cowell to death in March of 2013 while their five month old son lay nearby.

Haiden Suarez Noa and Tania Cowell fought often before and after their son was born. The jury saw text message evidence. Cowell would kick Suarez Noa out of her apartment, and later send a message like, “baby wants daddy home.”

That pattern was repeated hours before Cowell was killed March 9th, 2013. Suarez Noa told the jury that when he got that message, his plan to find a new apartment was forgotten.

“We wouldn’t be here today if that message about my son was not sent to me,” Suarez Noa told the jury.

“I didn’t plan this. I lost it. I lost my head for a few seconds,” he said.

“I didn’t say you didn’t regret it,” Crown Janet Booy said. “You could have walked away. But you didn’t. You stabbed her.”

Suarez Noa agreed.

He says he doesn’t remember stabbing Cowell more than twice, but he does remember fine details that happened before and after. Details such as moving Cowell’s body to the living room, using baby wipes to clean, putting the knife in a sink, taking a picture of Cowell’s body on the floor. It was at least four hours before he checked into a motel in Guelph with his son. He called his mother three times in Cuba. He called his ex wife in Cuba. He called his friend from Cuba. He activated a credit card, paid bills and transferred $11 000 to his friend. He also googled homicide in Canada, and prison sentences for murder.

Later that day after a trip to Walmart, Suarez Noa surrendered to police. On the stand, he struggled to justify his actions. Cowell had 11 stab wounds- one of them through her back so hard it went through her ribs and into her heart. The knife was found bloody and bent.

“When you stab someone with the force you stabbed Tania, you’re intending for them to die,” The Crown said. “You became full of rage and stabbed her.”

“I lost my temper so obviously there was anger,” Suarez Noa said.

If the jury thinks Suarez Noa had intent to kill when he raised the knife, he’ll be guilty of second degree murder. If they think he reacted involuntarily, he’ll be guilty of manslaughter.

The nine men and three women come back for closing arguments on Tuesday, and are expected to be deliberating by Wednesday.