WARNING: This article contains graphic details that readers may find confusing.
A 36-year-old tattoo artist from Edmonton, who admits to stabbing a seven-year-old girl to death, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder on Monday in the Queen’s Bench court in Edmonton.
David Moss’s lawyer will spend the next three weeks trying to convince Judge Stephen Manjuk that his client should be found not responsible for the death of Bella Rose Derosiers in May 2020.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Moss and Bella’s mother, Melissa Derosiers, grew up in neighboring small towns in Alberta and knew each other in high school.
A year before Bella died, Desrosiers befriended Moss after getting a tattoo of him.
Two months later, Desrosiers’ husband committed suicide at their home in South Edmonton. Moss tattooed her for free in memory of her husband.
On the morning of May 18, 2020, Derosiers became worried after Moss made some comments that made her think he might commit suicide.
She invited Moss into her house and began to hide knives in her bedroom closet.
When he arrived, Moss said he was tired and went to the third floor of the two-story house to take a shower and take a nap.
Crown prosecutor Shivani Naidu-Barrett said Derosiers had asked her aunt to come and watch the girls after they fell asleep so she could take Moss to the hospital.
Lily, Bella and Melissa Desrosiers (Facebook)
Derosier began picking up his two daughters.
She read a bedtime story to four-year-old Lily and kissed her goodnight on the lower bed in the bedroom the sisters shared.
He was about to kiss Bella when Moss suddenly appeared in the doorway, wearing only her underwear and waving scissors.
“Mr. Moss pushed Mrs. Derosier aside and quickly approached Bella on the upper bed,” Naidu-Barrett said. “With the help of scissors, Mr. Moss cut Bella’s neck and pulled her out of the upper bed.”
The girls’ mother tried to fight Moss. She received minor injuries in defense. Corta was told she had called Lily to run to the upstairs bathroom and lock the door. The four-year-old escaped to safety.
“Mr. Moss dragged Bella’s body down the stairs and into her living area, leaving a trail of blood,” Naidu-Barrett said.
He continued to attack the girl with scissors. Then he sat on the sofa in the living room. His hands and feet were covered in blood.
“It was a murder”
Desrosiers took the scissors from Moss and threw them out of the house. She called 911 and was trying to get first aid when police arrived. The paramedics declared Bella dead. Moss was immediately detained.
According to the agreed statement of facts, after being at the police station, Moss told officers that his fingers had been cut.
When asked how it happened, he replied, “It was a murder.”
David Michael Moss pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. (David Moss / Instagram)
Six minutes later, Moss added without prompting, “Do you know why I did it? Because I liked it, damn it.”
The Crown opened and closed its case Monday morning. The burden of defense is to prove that Moss must be found irresponsible.
The case resumes on Wednesday.
Moss is expected to take office on Friday. Melissa Derosiers is due to testify next week.
If you or someone you know is having trouble, here’s where to get help:
This guide from Center for Addictions and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you worry about.
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