MONTREAL — A Montreal man charged with fatally stabbing his unborn baby had been fighting with his pregnant wife the evening prior to the attack, a jury trial heard Wednesday.
Sofiane Ghazi, 39, is charged with first-degree murder of the infant, referred to in court simply as “Baby Ghazi.”
He is also charged with attempted murder in the alleged stabbing of his ex-wife, who was 36 weeks pregnant.
“He struck her in the stomach with a carving fork,” prosecutor Chantal Michaud told jurors in her opening statement. “What’s particular about this case compared to other homicide cases is the accused injured Baby Ghazi while (the baby) was still inside the womb.”
The mother was rushed to hospital and the child was delivered by emergency C-section following the alleged attack on July 24, 2017.
After the birth, the baby had a heartbeat for several minutes, Michaud told jurors, before succumbing to the injuries.
The accused formally pleaded not guilty as the jury, after being briefed by Quebec Superior Court Justice Jean-Francois Buffoni, began hearing the Crown’s evidence.
About 20 witnesses will take the stand, Michaud said, including police, first responders and civilians. Also expected to testify is Ghazi’s former spouse.
In addition, the Crown will also call the doctors who helped deliver the baby and a pathologist who examined the victim.