Alex Radita's parents told church members he was resurrected from the dead, murder trial hears - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 12:08 AM | Calgary | -11.5°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
CalgaryAudio

Alex Radita's parents told church members he was resurrected from the dead, murder trial hears

Alex Radita died and was resurrected by God the day before paramedics found his severely emaciated body in the family's home, his parents told church members in the hours before 911 was called.

Scroll down to listen to a recording of the 911 call that was entered into evidence at trial

This photo of Alex Radita was taken at his 15th birthday party, three months before his death. (Court exhibit)

Alex Radita died and was resurrected by God the day before paramedics found his severely emaciated body in his family's home, his parents told church members in the hours before 911 was called.

Rodicaand EmilRaditaare on trial for first-degree murder after their 37-pound, 15-year-old son was found dead in his bed.

Listen to the 911 call here:

Audio of a 911 call placed by Emil Radita after his son, Alex , had stopped breathing. The audio was entered into evidence at the murder trial of Emil and his wife Rodica.

"He died last night and in the morning, after night, [Rodica] see the child breathing and blink eyes,"MariusCiltansaid he was told when he visited the Radita home on May 7, 2013.

"[Rodica] says last night the child had died and in the morning he riseup."

Ciltan,a member of the Romanian Pentecostal Church,also told Justice KarenHornerthat after Alex's death, Emil told him he believed doctors in British Columbia, where the family lived before moving to Alberta in 2009, caused Alex's diabetes by giving him insulin.

"The doctors abused the child in the hospital,"Ciltansaid Emil told him.

That'swhy the family decided to treat Alex at home, according to Ciltan.

A man and a woman looking toward the camera
Rodica, right, and Emil Radita are on trial for first-degree murder. (CBC)

Alex was diagnosed with diabetes at age three when theRaditaslived inSurrey, B.C., and washospitalizedthree times before social services seized the boy for a year because his parents refused to accept his diagnosis and treat him.

It was around 11 a.m. on the morning of May 7, 2013, thatCiltantestified he was called by another member of the church who said Alex had died and been brought back to life by God.

Churchgoers urge family to call 911

After speaking with Emil,Ciltanheaded over to theRaditahome where he says he prayed withRodicaand the seven otherRaditachildren before asking to see Alex.

When he entered Alex's room, he says he askedRodicaif the boy was alive.

"He was looking very bad," saidCiltan. "I was shocked."

Ciltansaid he left theRaditahome with some of Alex's siblings to go to church where they prayed and then brought about 15 members back to the home for more prayers.

The elders asked to see the child and then told Emil to call 911, according toCiltan.

ProsecutorMartaJuzwiacaskedCiltanif members of his church sought medical attention when they were ill.

"Yes," saidCiltan. "All the people."

Sister told friendAlex had cancer

The witness beforeCiltan,EunicePop,was another member of the churchandwas friends with some of Alex's sisters.

Shortly after Alex died, one of his sisters told Pop that he had cancer. But on Thursday, the medical examiner testified Alex did not have cancer.

On a visit to theRaditahome around March or April of 2013, Pop described seeing Alex walk down the stairs "snail slow" using the railing. She testified that he had a hole in his neck, swollen legs and looked sick.

As part of Pop's cross-examination,Rodica'slawyer AndreaSerinkasked if she had seen any photos of Alex since his death.

She admitted she might have heard about the hole in his neck after reading media stories about the trial.

The Court of Queen's Benchjudge-alone trial is in its 7th day and is set to last several more weeks.

The Crown's final witness on Friday is a third member of the Raditas' church.