The trial of a Calgary couple accused of first-degree murder in the death of their son has been told the 15-year-old weighed less than 37 pounds when he died in May 2013.
Emil Radita, 59, and Rodica Radita, 53, were arrested 10 months later.
An autopsy determined that Alexandru Radita died from complications due to untreated diabetes and starvation.
He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was three years old while the family lived in British Columbia.
In her opening address, Crown prosecutor Susan Pepper told court the family moved to Alberta and after that Alexandru never saw a doctor or attended school as he and his eight siblings were registered for home schooling.
Pepper suggested Alexandru's parents confined him to his room and failed to provide him with insulin, food, or medical care until he died.
She also told court that in 2010, pharmacy records show a decline in the amount of diabetes medication purchased by the Radita family and that by 2013 they didn't buy any, although all medication was covered under Alberta Health Services.
Court heard Alexandru was covered in sores and was wearing a diaper at the time of his death.
Paramedic Deborah Baumback, who was called to the home after the boy's death, described him as "emaciated to the point he was mummified."
She said the boy's father told her his son had only been diagnosed with diabetes one month earlier.
A police officer testified finding a hand-written letter in a bin outside the home, part of which read: "I walked past my mom's room. I saw her lifting my brother, Alex. I saw his face. It was so scary ... it looked like he was dead. I started to pray."
The officer also said several expired containers of insulin were found in the home.