A court in Ottawa has declared a mistrial in the case of Boravy Buth, who was charged in connection with the death of her seven-week-old son in 2021. At the same time, her former partner Patrick O'Connor was found guilty of second-degree murder following a lengthy trial.
Both Buth and O’Connor had been facing charges related to the infant’s death, which took place in October 2021. Buth was also charged with criminal negligence causing death. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charges against her, leading the judge to declare a mistrial. This means the case against her may be retried at a later stage.
The court heard that police responded to an emergency call at the couple’s home in the early hours of the morning after reports that the baby was not breathing. During the trial, differing accounts were presented about what had happened before the infant’s condition worsened. Testimony revealed inconsistencies between the statements given by Buth and O’Connor regarding the sequence of events that night.
Medical evidence played a key role in the case. A forensic pathologist told the court that the child’s injuries were severe and not consistent with a simple fall from a bed, as initially claimed. Instead, the injuries were compared to those seen in high-impact incidents and were also consistent with cases involving child abuse. The expert further noted signs of earlier injuries prior to the fatal incident.
During closing arguments, both defence teams attempted to shift responsibility onto the other accused, highlighting the complexity of the case and the conflicting evidence presented to the jury. The verdict ultimately held O’Connor responsible, while leaving unresolved questions in relation to Buth’s alleged role.
Following the verdict, tensions were reported inside the courtroom, with a brief disturbance involving a family member of the convicted individual. Court officials and police quickly managed the situation.
O’Connor is scheduled to return to court for sentencing proceedings, while the legal future of the case against Buth remains uncertain after the mistrial decision.
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