Guy Turcotte murder trial: Isabelle Gaston never thought he'd kill kids

The ex-wife of Guy Turcotte, theformer Quebec cardiologistcharged with murdering their children, says she never thought hecould kill them.

Isabelle Gastonwas back on the stand for a second day TuesdayatTurcotte'ssecond trial on two counts offirst-degree murder.

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Turcotte is accusedin the 2009slayings of Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3.

On more than one occasion on the witness stand, Gaston told the jury undercross-examination by Turcotte'slawyer, Guy Poupart,that she never thought her ex-husband could hurtthem.

She described their marriage as toxic but also noted thatTurcotte was not a bad father.

Turcotte, 43, has pleaded not guilty to the charges but admittedthrough his lawyers last week to causing the children's deaths.

A 'toxic dynamic,' Gaston testified

Under cross-examination byPoupart,Gastonwas asked at length about her relationship with the accused in 2008,leading up to the deaths in February 2009.

"It was a difficult year," she said. As the couple driftedfurther part, there were numerous skirmishes, harsh words and
strife.

GastontoldPoupartthere was no physical violence, but that inretrospect she now considers herself a victim of domestic violencebecause of the emotional abuse from her former spouse.

"He did not hit me, but there was verbal and psychologicalviolence,"Gastonsaid, describing what she called incessant
denigration byTurcotte.

Questioned byPoupart,Gastonsaid she could be sharp-tongued,too.

"I was also verbally abusive," she said. "It was like a spiral."

"We had a toxic dynamic,"Gastonadded.

She began seeing her personal trainer, and she andTurcottesplitup in January 2009 less than one month before the children werefound dead in a rental home.

The court heard the new beau, MartinHuot, became a regularpresence at the former family home as soonasTurcotteleft.

Gastonsaid the reason forHuot'spresence was twofold: she nolonger wanted to be controlled, and she feared for her safety withregard to her ex-husband.

A date had been set for the couple to meet with a mediator todiscuss custody matters.

"We never met, the children were dead," saidGaston, who leftthe courthouse without comment.

The trial continues Wednesday.