Alleged mistress testifies at ex-pastor’s murder trial
Posted November 19, 2014 7:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The alleged mistress of a former Toronto pastor accused of killing his pregnant wife took the stand at his murder trial on Wednesday.
Philip Grandine was on the phone with his mistress the night his 29-year-old wife Karissa drowned in the bathtub of their Scarborough bungalow.
Eileen Florentino testified that Grandine told her he was out for a run at the time. According to the Crown, just three minutes later, Philip called 911 from his home’s landline to report that he had found his lifeless wife under the water.
When paramedics arrived at the home, Karissa, who was five months pregnant, was still in the bathtub and the water had not been drained.
Florentino, who appeared nervous on the stand and mumbled most of her testimony, told the court she had sex with Grandine in the days leading up to his wife’s funeral and that their sexual relationship continued several months after.
Grandine was arrested six months after his wife died. Toxicology reports found the drug Ativan, a sedative which had not been prescribed to her, in her system.
Florentino testified that in the months leading up to his wife’s death, Grandine cried when he was forced to resign from his position because their affair had been exposed. She said he often talked about running away with her, but Florentino said she never took it seriously.
When asked why she continued her relationship with Grandine, Florentino said she wanted to be there for him and still considers him a friend.
The Crown will continue its case on Thursday.
