Accused at manslaughter trial testifies in her own defence

Testimony continues at the Barbara Cabala manslaughter trial, where she took the stand in her own defense at a London courthouse. CTV’s Nick Paparella reports.

Barbara Cabala was emotional during her testimony in a London court on Monday, when she recalled the day that would change her life forever.

After breaking up with her partner of thirteen years, the 43 year old had moved back in with her mother, who lived at 392 Wilkins Street in south London.

Cabala told the jury how she and her mother argued frequently, but that on July 7, 2021, the verbal altercation turned physical saying, “She didn’t agree with my lifestyle choices... she started getting snippy with me.”

Cabala said that as she prepared to go out for the evening her mother attacked her, “She lunged at me.. She came at me and hit me across the head and it was really hard.” She added. “I was terrified, I was hurt, I didn’t know what was happening.”

Then Cabala told the court, “She was strangling me, I did the same because that’s all you can do to get them to stop.”

She said she couldn’t get away from her mother because, “She was holding on to me, she was holding on to my neck she was holding on to my arms.”

Cabala said, “I wanted her to stop, I didn’t want to hurt her, she was hurting me.”

Cabala would eventually get free and call 911 once her mother stopped breathing. When asked about performing CPR on her mother Cabala said, “I didn’t want to go near her again, I was scared because of what she did to me.”

The court has heard that Elzbieta died from external neck compression. Hours later while in police custody Cabala would be charged. In court she has plead not guilty to manslaughter.

While on the stand testifying Cabala broke down and sobbed several times as she recalled the events that lead to her mother’s death.

Later during cross-examination, Crown Attorney James Spangenberg told the accused that her mother died because she strangled her to death and Cabala responded, “It was the only way I could get her to stop.”

In the recorded 911 call, Cabala told the operator that her mother wasn’t breathing. The Crown asked, “You thought she was not breathing but alive?” She responded, “Yes.”

Spangenberg asked, “Hadn’t you just strangled her to death?” And she responded, “I did not think that anything I had done was enough to hurt or to kill her.”

Cabala has also told the jury that her mother would have panic attacks, and at times would stop breathing.

The trial continues.