Slain woman's twin in tears at murder trial
Last Updated: Friday, September 25, 2009 | 9:29 PM ET
CBC News
Paula Menendez, 34, was a physiotherapist in Toronto. (CBC)The twin sister of one of two women a Toronto-area man is accused of murdering broke down in tears several times as she testified in Ontario Superior Court on Friday.
Carolina Stubbs, whose identical twin Paula Menendez was found dead over two and half years ago, said she had a close bond with her sister.
"She was beautiful," Stubbs told reporters outside a courtroom. "She was a wonderful person."
She was speaking after testifying on the second day of a second-degree murder trial for Christopher Little, 37, accused of killing Menendez, 34, and his wife Julie Crocker, 33. Both were found dead at Crocker and Little's home on Feb. 17, 2007.
Little and Crocker had been married for 10 years, but she had been having an affair with Toronto sportscaster Rick Ralph for several months before her death. Menendez was Ralph's estranged wife.
Stubbs said she spoke to her sister by phone the day before she was found dead. Stubbs was pregnant at the time and was scheduled to a undergo birth by Caesarean section.
Stubbs told the court she asked Menendez to promise to take care of her daughter if anything happened to her during surgery.
Menendez promised to look after the baby, but told Stubbs she was being silly, court heard.
"I'm relieved that I was able to say something in court today about my sister," Stubbs said.
Crocker's throat slit
Menendez was found in the garage at Crocker and Little's home, dead as a result of ligature strangulation — a different cause of death than hanging, Crown attorney Michael Demczur said Thursday.
There was yellow rope tied around her neck, her feet were bound together and her body had numerous blunt force injuries all over.
Crocker was found dead on the bed in the master bedroom, her throat slit from her left ear to her right clavicle, Demczur said.
Little himself called 911 at 3:23 a.m., saying he had just arrived at the house to find a woman he didn't know hanging in his garage.
Crocker and Little had been separated for months at that point and were taking turns living at the house with their two children.
With files from The Canadian Press
