Trial for triple murder in Brossard | The cause of the children’s deaths remains a mystery

(Longueuil) Eleven defense wounds. Lacerated hands. Numerous stab wounds to the neck and back of the head. Everything indicates that Synthia Bussières fought for her life before being murdered. And it is “logical” that she died before her children, according to the pathologist. As for little Eliam and Zac, the cause of their death remains a mystery.

“We call them white autopsies. We cannot determine the exact cause of their death,” summarized experienced forensic pathologist Yann Dazé to the jury at the Longueuil courthouse.

After three weeks of trial, this testimony finally lifts the veil on the circumstances of the death of Synthia Bussières, 38 years old, and her sons Eliam, 5 years old, and Zac, 2 years old. Their father, Mohamed Al Ballouz – who now identifies as a woman – is accused of committing the three murders on September 25, 2022, in their Brossard apartment.

According to the Crown’s theory, Mohamed Al Ballouz first stabbed his partner to death between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. He then tried to clean the apartment. Then, he killed his two sons, started a fire at the foot of the bed and ingested windshield washer fluid to commit suicide. A first responder resuscitated him with a single blow to the sternum around 12:30 a.m.

On surveillance video entered into evidence last week, Mohamed Al Ballouz can be seen winking at the camera, then muttering something after going to get a bag from the car. All this on the night of the murders.

On Monday, the accused, who represented herself, suggested to the jury that it was Synthia Bussières who murdered their children, before attempting to kill her partner. However, this theory was undermined by the conclusions of the forensic pathologist.

According to the first responders, the children’s bodies were still warm or warm when they arrived, while that of Synthia Bussières was already rigid. D^r Dazé told the jury that a child’s body becomes rigid more quickly than an adult’s during death.

“The logical conclusion is that M^me Bussières died before the children. It’s entirely reasonable,” testified D.^r Daze.

But under cross-examination Tuesday, the pathologist said he was unable to determine who died first. It is therefore “possible” that the children died before their mother, he conceded.

Defense wounds

Synthia Bussières received no less than 23 stab wounds, including around ten to the neck, behind the head and to the side of the face. In autopsy photos presented to the jury, three gaping holes could be seen at the base of the neck. Only two wounds were fatal.

According to the pathologist, the blow to the carotid artery “certainly” caused the woman’s death in less than 10 minutes.

Synthia Bussières defended herself: she had nine defensive wounds on her left hand and two on her right hand. “They are called defense wounds. They are inflicted when a victim tries to ward off blows and tries to grab the weapon to try to protect themselves,” explained D^r Daze.

Also, the woman had around ten bruises and contusions, possibly caused by a fall. His left leg also showed a large “superficial” burn of around fifty centimeters. According to the pathologist, it is reasonable to conclude that Synthia Bussières was already dead when the fire was started, as she had not breathed any smoke.

These deaths that leave no trace

The mystery persists over the circumstances of the death of little Eliam and Zac. One thing is certain: they did not die naturally. “Two children aged 2 and 5 do not die of natural causes simultaneously without the body showing traces,” ruled D^r Daze.

Their bodies had no marks of violence or burns. They had not swallowed or breathed any alcohol, drugs or carbon monoxide.

What happened? Three hypotheses are considered by the forensic pathologist: suffocation, drowning or hypothermia. These three ways of dying may leave “very little or no trace”, according to the expert.

Contrary to “popular belief”, drowning is not necessarily seen during the autopsy. “It’s a myth. Water in the lungs, we can’t see that,” summed up D^r Daze.

According to witnesses, there was a slight accumulation of water in the apartment when the sprinklers went off due to the fire started at the foot of the bed. However, the bath was dry, a witness said.

Could the children have been asphyxiated by a bedding item? suggested the Crown.

“It leaves very few traces, if any, on the skin. Yes, it’s a valid hypothesis. Like drowning or hypothermia. I would not say that it is probable, I do not put it ahead of other hypotheses, but it is entirely compatible with the others,” said D^r Daze.

On Monday, the forensic biologist said Mohamed Al Ballouz’s blood was found on a boy’s bed, as well as on the side of a dresser near the head of the bed.

The pathologist’s cross-examination continues Tuesday.