Day two of the trial for Michael Gordon Jackson, a man accused of abducting his daughter to avoid a COVID-19 vaccine, continued in Regina on Tuesday, with his ex-wife testifying.
The 53-year-old Jackson is charged with breaking a custody order by taking the child with the intention of keeping her away from her mother between Dec. 6, 2021, and Jan. 21, 2022, in Carievale, Sask.
Jackson is representing himself during the trial.
In the afternoon, the jury heard Mariecar Jackson being asked about their daughter.
Mariecar informed the court that she and Michael met in 2013 and after three and a half years of marriage, they separated, with Mariecar becoming the primary caregiver of their daughter.
In 2019, a final custody order was established, stating that Mariecar would have the ultimate say in their daughter's well-being, with Michael having to be consulted.
Moving ahead to Nov. 10, 2021, Mariecar mentioned that Michael picked up their daughter from school and was expected to return her on Nov. 15.
She stated that she was in contact with Michael through text messages when he informed her that he would not be bringing their daughter back.
Then, on Nov. 19, Mariecar alleged that Michael requested a letter outlining her stance on their daughter receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
A few days later, on Nov. 21, Mariecar had a brief conversation with their daughter. She relayed that the last words uttered were, “I love you mom,” before the call ended.
On Nov. 26, RCMP officers forcibly entered a residence in Carievale in search of Michael and their child.
Mariecar stated that she didn't see her daughter again until RCMP located Michael in Vernon, B.C., on Feb. 22, 2022.
The trial will carry on over the next two weeks, with numerous witnesses yet to testify.
