A former Toronto pastor has been found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the drowning death of his pregnant wife more than three years ago.
Twenty-nine-year-old Anna Karissa Grandine was five months pregnant when she was found dead in a bathtub at her Scarborough home on Oct. 17, 2011.
An autopsy found traces of the sedative commonly known as Ativan in her blood.
On Thursday, a jury found her husband Philip Grandine guilty of manslaughter in connection with her death. He had originally been charged with first-degree murder.
The Crown argued that Mr. Grandine planned to kill his wife to continue an extra-marital affair he was having with one of his parishioners.
The defence argued that Mrs. Grandine committed suicide after learning of the affair.
Joinied by her mother, Mrs. Grandine’s sister read a statement outside the courthouse following Thursday’s verdict.
“Karissa was truly a kind and generous person,” Hannah Darvin told reporters. “She has been, and will continue to be, sorely missed. We know that God is in control of the situation and we are ever grateful for everyone’s thoughts and prayers.”
Both declined to take questions from the media.
Philip Grandine’s lawyer said that his client and his family were “absorbing the events of the day, and absorbing what has happened over the course of the trial.”
“What I will say is that in the sense of what Mr. Grandine was alleged to have done, it’s clear that the jury has found he had no intention to kill his wife – and for that I’m grateful,” Amit Thakore said.
"It’s not a happy day in any sense.”
Grandine is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing Dec. 11.
