An Edmonton father, George Russell Hulleman, 31, has been convicted of manslaughter following the death of his five-week-old son, Leviathan Puchalski. Originally facing a second-degree murder charge, Hulleman was found guilty of manslaughter at the Edmonton Court of King’s Bench.
During the trial, Judge Shannon Davis pointed out that despite expert medical testimony, the exact actions leading to Leviathan’s severe injuries could not be precisely determined. The events on the night of February 5, 2023, revealed that Leviathan’s mother retired to bed around 10 p.m., leaving Hulleman and the baby alone in their living room. Upon waking up several hours later, she discovered Hulleman on the phone with emergency services while holding the unresponsive and cold infant.
Medical professionals who responded to the scene found Hulleman performing chest compressions on Leviathan, who displayed signs of distress. Leviathan was rushed to Stollery Children’s Hospital, where it was determined that he had sustained critical injuries, including brain swelling, spinal cord damage, and limb fractures. Tragically, Leviathan passed away on February 9, 2023.
The pivotal question in the case revolved around Hulleman’s intent. While a forensic psychology expert highlighted Hulleman’s cognitive limitations and emotional vulnerabilities, Judge Davis emphasized that these factors did not definitively establish Hulleman’s mindset at the time of the incident. Despite acknowledging Hulleman’s cognitive challenges, the court concluded that the evidence did not support a lack of foresight required for a murder conviction.
The court heard conflicting accounts, with the Crown contending that Hulleman’s post-incident behavior suggested an intent to harm Leviathan, while medical evidence refuted Hulleman’s claim that the baby had fallen from a couch. Experts described Leviathan’s injuries as “catastrophic,” potentially resulting from shaking, throwing, or slamming. While Davis found evidence of intent to cause bodily harm, he deemed it insufficient to prove an anticipation of death, leading to the manslaughter conviction.
As the case progresses, a report on Hulleman’s Indigenous background, known as a Gladue report, will be prepared before sentencing, which is scheduled to occur at a later date.
