Sask. social services criticized after Goforth murder trial verdict

The criminal trial is over in the case surroundingtwo abused little girls, but some questions linger about how it could have happened.

On Saturday, a 12-person jury reached a decision in the trial of Tammy and Kevin Goforth, the Regina couple accused of second-degree murder in the death of a four-year-old girl in their care, and of causing bodily harm to her two-year-old sister in 2012.

Shortly after the decisions were read, one of the Goforths' lawyers had some critical words forthe province'ssocial services ministry.

"I think I stated objective facts about how social services attempted to deflect responsibilityfor how they treated these children throughout their young lives" Noah Evanchuk, Kevin Goforth's lawyer, told reportersoutside the courthouse on Saturday.

The jury found Tammy Goforthguiltyof second-degree murder, while her partner Kevin Goforth was found guilty of manslaughter.

Both were found guilty of causing bodily harm to the two-year-old girl.

Tammy Goforth's conviction means a sentence of life imprisonment, with no eligibility for parole for at least 10 years, with the eligibility timeto bedecided by the judge.

• Tammy and Kevin Goforth convicted in death of 4-year-old girl, harm of girl's sister
• Child protection worker testifies at trial for Regina couple accused of killing girl, 4
• Kevin and Tammy Goforth murder trial: what we know

During the trial the court heard the testimony of a child protection workerwho said the girls lived in seven different homes before they were moved to the Goforth's home. The worker said she last visited the kids when they moved there in November 2011.

The children were placed in the home under an arrangement known as a person of sufficient interest, in which the Ministry of Social Services checks in on the child once per year.

Bob Hughes, with the Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism, said it appears that social services didn't properly monitor the Goforths' care of the girls.

"Thereobviously was not regular safety checks on these children," he said.

Lawyers for both sides agree that the girl who died in 2012 was suffering from a brain injury following cardiac arrest. They say she was malnourished and dehydrated.

The Ministry of Social Services declined CBC's request for an on-camera interview, but replied in an email.

Natalie Huber, executive director of Child and Family Programs, said their thoughts go out to the family, but wouldn't comment directly on the case.

"Due to confidentiality provisions under The Child and Family Services Act, we are not able to speak about specific cases including providing comment on any testimony provided in court over the past few weeks," Huber said.

Huber added that there have been changes to strengthen the PSI program in the past few years, including policy changes to require monthly monitoring and assessment for six months before applying for a PSI court order. Thereafter the Ministry requires annual reviews.

"We are in a much better place today to respond to the needs of children and families because of the level of rigour that's applied through our very strict and thorough accountability measures," she said.