5-year-old boy was happy and healthy before he came to Canada, grandfather's manslaughter trial hears

A five-year-old boy was happy and healthy before he came to Canada — where he died months later from multiple blunt-force trauma injuries, court heard as his grandfather's manslaughter trial began Monday in Calgary.

Allan Perdomo Lopez, 59, is charged in the 2015 death of his grandson Eneas Emilio Perdomo, who went by Emilio.

Police have said the boy was taken to hospital in July 2015 with swelling and bruising all over his body, just months after search warrant documents show the boy was sent to live in Calgary from Mexico by his mother, who hoped he would have a better life in Canada.

He died after five days in hospital.

Marisol Segovia-Alvarez, Emilio's grandmother on his mother's side, testified through an interpreter in the Calgary courtroom via CCTV from the Canadian consulate in Mexico where she currently lives, and where Emilio was born. 

Segovia-Alvarez said the child lived with her until he was nearly five-years-old, and that he was "more of a son than a grandson."

Segovia-Alvarez said she didn't know the boy's biological father, but said he didn't assume responsibility when the child was born.

Crown Attorney Vicki Faulkner said the child "was a happy and healthy little five-year-old boy until he came to Canada for a better life."

An autopsy determined Emilio died from multiple blunt-force trauma injuries. Court was shown several photos of Emilio intubated, lying in an intensive care bed with multiple bruises and other visible injuries before his death in hospital.

Perdomo Lopez's wife, Carolina Perdomo, was originally charged in the case but earlier this year her charge was stayed by prosecutor Shane Parker.

Witness Pablo Palomera testified that he sometimes saw Perdomo Lopez, his wife Carolina Perdomo and the boy at a weekly flea market.

The court heard Palomera had a table where he sold retro video games and collectibles and got to know the family because they all speak Spanish.

'I just wish I could have saved him'

Palomera says Perdomo Lopez had spoken about adopting the boy from Mexico and the child seemed quiet and afraid when Palomera first met the boy at the market.

Palomera says he called Child Protective Services when he saw the boy in the spring or summer of 2015 and he could barely walk.

"I was so sad," Palomera said, pausing to wipe tears from his eyes.

"I just wish I could have saved him."

Palomera folded up a tissue into a square in the witness stand to demonstrate what the bandage looked like on the back, left side of Emilio's head.

In July 2015, the five-year-old was taken to hospital unresponsive and suffering from seizures.

The couple told authorities that Emilio's injuries were the result of several accidents, including falling down stairs, falling off his bicycle, tripping over a garden box and being knocked down by the family dog, according to a document used by police to obtain a search warrant.

Defence lawyer Darren Mahoney is representing Perdomo Lopez.

The Crown has said it also plans to submit evidence that includes 11 conversations of the accused intercepted by police, and the statement he gave to police.

The judge-alone trial is set to last four weeks.