A Langford man accused of killing his mother sometime between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve 2021 pleaded not guilty as his trial began Monday in B.C. Supreme Court.
Ryan Robert Elder, 30, faces one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his mother, Raymonde Elder, whose body was found in her home on Dec. 31, 2021, by police performing a wellness check.
Defence lawyers Ryan Drury and Schuyler Roy intend to argue Ryan Elder is not criminally responsible for his mother’s death.
RCMP officers went to Raymonde Elder’s home at Arbutus Ridge Estates mobile home park, on Selwyn Road in Langford, after receiving a call from her brother, who found out she was missing from work and couldn’t reach her.
“When police arrived, they located Mr. Elder in that residence with the deceased in the living room,” said Crown prosecutor Sheila Simpson, reading from an agreed statement of facts.
Ryan Elder was arrested and taken to the West Shore RCMP detachment, where he voluntarily gave a statement describing the force he used to end his mother’s life and how he left her in the home after to buy new clothes and leave the clothing he was wearing during the “altercation,” Simpson said.
Officers found various items around the body, including clothing, sheets, a rug and the handle of a knife, she said.
In the kitchen, officers found Raymonde Elder’s phone, with a damaged screen, in a bowl of water, as well as medical scissors, Simpson said.
During an autopsy, a blade of a knife was found inside the body. The cause of death was determined to be stab wounds to her back, strangulation and blunt-force trauma, Simpson said.
The Crown intends to call Dr. Elizabeth Brooks-Lim, who performed the autopsy, on Tuesday.
Video footage from security cameras shows Ryan Elder in or near a Walmart, a 91原创 Tire store and the Langford YMCA on the morning of Dec. 26.
Police recovered red-stained clothing in a ditch outside the YMCA, as well as a receipt and grocery bags from Walmart. They also found three computer hard drives in the waters of Mill Stream creek.
Ryan Elder deposited the items in the locations where they were found, according to the agreed statement of facts.
Sgt. Kimberly Sarson testified Monday, describing how she took photos of small cuts on Ryan Elder’s hand and an abrasion on his lip, as well as photos of the scene.
She described him as co-operative, fairly talkative and a little bit nervous, sharing information she hadn’t asked for.
Loved ones in the courtroom sobbed and held each other as photos were shown of Raymonde Elder’s body on the ground, her brown hair covering her face.
Sarson donned blue latex gloves to open a sealed exhibit bag containing the knife blade, about three inches long, found in Raymonde Elder’s body.
