Accused testifies in aggravated assault trial

The trial of Debora Littler-Parsons wrapped up on Thursday, day three of the aggravated assault trial.
Littler-Parsons is accused of stabbing her then-boyfriend, Robert Melanson, on December 31, 2010 in their Durham home.
Littler-Parsons took the stand the entire day for testimony directed by defence attorney Rob Sutherland and cross examination from the Crown, Patrick Young.
Littler-Parsons detailed her rocky relationship with Melanson over the 12 years they dated on and off.
The two were planning to spend New Year’s Eve together in the home, scrapping wall paper and having a few drinks, but a discussion Littler-Parsons brought up regarding Melanson’s attention to the neighbour turned ugly.
During the discussion, Littler-Parsons says Melanson began screaming at her and phoned a friend of hers telling him to come get her because he didn’t want her any more.
There was a scuffle with the phone and Littler-Parsons claims she cut the phone cord when Melanson tried to phone the friend again.
She testified that she then took the knife and placed it on the kitchen stove at which point Melanson was stoking the fire with the poker and pointed it at her stating he wanted to wrap it around her neck.
She then went to the go to the bathroom at which point Littler-Parsons says he came at her with the poker, hitting her a number of times and then she reached for the knife as he put the poker behind her neck and they struggled, falling to the floor at which point Melanson was stabbed in the shoulder.
Littler-Parsons says she tripped and Melanson fell on her, however, the previous day Melanson testified that she was the one who fell on top of him.
After the stabbing, Melanson called 9-1-1 from the bedroom and hung up and when Const. Katherine Greene with the Pictou County District RCMP returned the call, Littler-Parsons answered stating her grandchildren were playing with the phone, at which point Const. Greene informed Littler-Parsons that she was on her way to the residence.
Littler-Parsons claimed, during testimony, that she had been on an undertaking meaning she had to abstain from alcohol consumption and keep the peace.
During cross examination, Young questioned Littler-Parsons’ motives for bringing up the discussion about the neighbour, since she told the court she had planned on moving out because the relationship was not going well.
He also brought up Littler-Parsons’ criminal record consisting of a break and enter and assault with a weapon from March 2010 for which she was convicted and is currently serving three years and ten months.
Young also questioned why, when Const. Greene was on the phone, Littler-Parsons didn’t request an ambulance be sent to the residence if she was as upset about Melanson’s well-being as she claimed to be.
The day wrapped up with closing statements from both the Crown and the defence and the jury is now in deliberation.