The trial of Tomy Carranza-Ladry, a 36-year-old childcare worker, has reached its final arguments. The defendant stands accused of second-degree murder in the death of 18-month-old Dylan, who was fatally injured at a daycare in L’Assomption on December 4, 2023.

The defense is asking the jury to consider the lesser charge of manslaughter. They argue that Carranza-Ladry suffered a severe anxiety attack at the time and was mentally unstable due to exhaustion, stress, and borderline personality disorder. To support this claim, they called psychiatrist Marie-Frédérique Allard to testify.

However, the prosecution tells a different story. Citing a forensic pathologist who found multiple complex skull fractures, bleeding in the eyes (retinal hemorrhaging), bruising on both sides of the head, and severe brain trauma, they argue the defendant harmed the child on purpose. The Crown describes Carranza-Ladry as an impatient man who took his anger out on the victim, and they dismissed his claims of a panic attack or being heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident.

The jury will be sequestered, or kept in private isolation to reach a verdict, starting Wednesday after receiving final instructions from Judge Marc-André Blanchard.