The 11-person London jury at the murder trial of Ashley Bourget, 40, was told about a poetry contest the accused entered while in custody months after her arrest in connection with the brutal death of Grant Norton.
The contest was held between inmates at different detention centres in southwestern Ontario.
In the poem, which was entered as a court exhibit, Bourget spoke about her rough upbringing and the events that led to her being in custody.
Entitled “Small Child,” it starts off with her writing, “There once was a child so tender and mild, until one day was completely defiled.”
Then she writes, “Had my wings ripped off my back, led me down a path that was black.”
It goes on, “Now that I’m nearly 40 years old, I’m in jail for life, my future is foretold.”
Bourget then writes, “For killing a rapist I’m so f****** pissed, the Devil I was forced to kiss. My children are the ones I’ll truly miss.”
The poem ends with a wish to see her children again, “When your mama gets back from the pen.”
Charged with first-degree murder, Bourget was arrested 11 months after the badly beaten body of Norton was found stuffed in a large plastic barrel down a ravine not far from her Adelaide Street South apartment in the area of Jacqueline and Ada Streets in July of 2020.
She had pleaded not guilty.
The victim and the accused were known to each other as drug dealers. The court has heard Bourget’s claims that the 59-year-old Norton had raped her in the past.
Shortly after the poem was entered as an exhibit, the Crown closed its case after five weeks of testimony.
The trial resumes on Tuesday with the defence calling its evidence.
