Saint John man pleads guilty to 2nd-degree murder of toddler using a Ping-Pong ball

On what was to be the first day of a five-week jury trial, Karrson Bennett changed his plea to guilty in the death of a Saint John toddler in September 2021. 

Bennett admitted he put a Ping-Pong ball in the child's mouth and intentionally caused the boy's death.

While the publication ban protecting the boy's identity remains in effect, the publication bans governing the details of the  court process Monday were lifted by Justice Kathryn Gregory of the Court of King's Bench. 

The day started with more than 100 prospective jurors gathered in two courtrooms of the fifth floor of the courthouse. Meanwhile, on the fourth floor, defence lawyer David Lutz told the court that he arrived that morning prepared to start a five-week jury trial. 

Lutz said he spoke to his client right away, and Bennett told him he wanted to plead guilty to second-degree murder. That began several hours of legal discussions that were covered by a publication ban for most of the day.

Prospective jurors were told that a "procedural matter" had to be dealt with, and Gregory said they were being sent home with an order to appear Tuesday morning ready to resume jury selection. 

Lutz submitted the appropriate paperwork to the court in order for Bennett to re-elect trial by a judge alone. The Crown consented to the application on the condition that Bennett admit that he intentionally caused the child's death.

Once the properly signed copies were submitted, Gregory consented to the re-election, accepted Bennett's guilty plea  and lifted the publication ban on the day's discussions. 

The court will now move into the sentencing phase.

Crown prosecutor Chris Ryan said the process should take five days but has to accommodate a witness with an inflexible schedule.

The sentencing hearing will start Wednesday and continue to Friday before a break until next Thursday, when a witness is expected to talk about the force needed to lodge a Ping-Pong ball into the airway of a toddler. 

Ryan also asked for victim impact statements from several members of the victim's family, including his mother, father and grandmother, while Lutz asked for a pre-sentence report for Bennett. 

Bennett was originally charged in September 2021 with criminal negligence causing death, but that was later changed to second-degree murder. He is also charged with breach of probation. 

Saint John police have said officers responded to a 911 call on Sept. 18, 2021, about an unconscious child at a residence. The child was eventually airlifted to the children's hospital in Halifax but died the next day.