By Canadian Press

Quebec man accused of killing ailing wife takes stand in his defence

Feb 1, 2019 | 11:49 AM

MONTREAL — A Quebec man on trial for suffocating his ailing wife has told a jury he became increasingly isolated as he struggled to care for her.

Michel Cadotte began testifying today at his second-degree murder trial for the killing of Jocelyne Lizotte. Lizotte, 60, was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease that had left her unable to care for herself and detached from reality. She was found dead in her bed at a Montreal long-term care facility in 2017.

A head nurse at the facility earlier testified that Cadotte admitted to suffocating his wife with a pillow. His defence is drawing attention to his state of mind at the time of her death.

Cadotte, 57, testified that Lizotte’s health deteriorated even before the formal Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2011. He said he struggled to maintain a job as Lizotte required more and more care at home. Stretched too far, Cadotte says he finally agreed in March 2013 to her hospitalization.

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He told the jury Lizotte’s mother had also suffered from Alzheimer’s and Lizotte had told him she would rather die than be placed in long-term care.

He described meeting Lizotte for the first time at the cafeteria of a paper company where they both worked. He said the meeting changed his life, and once they started dating he stopped his use of hard drugs. He credits Lizotte with saving his life and said they had a wonderful relationship until the day she died.

The Canadian Press