The father of eight-year-old Teagan Batstone 91裸聊视频� who was on Dec. 10, 2014 shortly before her mother Lisa Batstone was arrested for murder 91裸聊视频� said what he misses most about his daughter is holding her hand.

Gabe Batstone made the comment to media outside B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster Monday, moments after he testified at his ex-wife91裸聊视频檚 second-degree murder trial.

Lisa, wearing black trousers and a light blue button-up shirt, sat motionless throughout the three-hour testimony, but looked back at her supporters several times to share a smile and wave.

Throughout the testimony, Gabe and Lisa didn91裸聊视频檛 make eye contact. Seated in the prisoner91裸聊视频檚 box, Lisa had a computer monitor taped to the desk in front of her, obstructing her view of Gabe. She would turn her head away when Gabe entered and exited the courtroom.

Defence counsel and prosecutors took turns examining Gabe, and heard about the loving relationship he shared with his daughter, the falling out of his and Lisa91裸聊视频檚 relationship and the sometimes 91裸聊视频渃ombative91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渁crimonious91裸聊视频� communication and custody battle that followed.

The father testified that the last time he saw his daughter was on the morning of Dec. 8. Gabe, who lives and works in Ottawa, was in Vancouver for an unexpected trip and had requested a visit with his daughter.

Gabe walked Teagan to her classroom at Rosemary Heights Elementary after a dentist appointment.

91裸聊视频淚 remember the steps down the hallway, holding her hand, of course 91裸聊视频� she always loved to hold hands 91裸聊视频� and seeing the door open and her hand, almost like a movie, her fingers pulling away as she walked and neither of you knowing, you91裸聊视频檒l never see each other again,91裸聊视频� he told CBC News outside of the courthouse.

91裸聊视频淚f you could do it again, I would have hugged and kissed her and smothered her, right? But having said that, it was the beautiful touching way that we always left each other.91裸聊视频�

The court heard that Gabe received a message from Lisa soon after, which said that 91裸聊视频渋t seems you rather I just disappear.91裸聊视频�

A message of that nature, Gabe told the court, 91裸聊视频渄idn91裸聊视频檛 seem out of the ordinary.91裸聊视频�

Gabe said he received an email at 4:11 a.m. from Lisa on Dec. 10, 2014 saying that Teagan has the flu and that she wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be going to school.

Teagan91裸聊视频檚 body was found later that day in the back of a vehicle in the 13900-block of 35A Avenue.

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Gabe and Lisa separated in 2008, and divorced two years later. Gabe told the court that communication was a challenge between the two parents, and that they enlisted the help of Vancouver-based family counsellor Michael Elterman.

Gabe said Elterman was 91裸聊视频減ivotal91裸聊视频� in creating a strategy for meaningful communication.

The strategy, Gabe told the court, was that he and Lisa would exchange emails once a week to discuss plans and child care.

The counsellor was helpful to 91裸聊视频渞educe the tone, or perhaps fever,91裸聊视频� of the communication, he said.

However, Gabe told the court he was receiving texts, phone calls and emails from Lisa throughout the week at such a rate that 91裸聊视频渋t would have been impossible91裸聊视频� to respond to them all.

He told the court that his routine was to compile Lisa91裸聊视频檚 messages and respond accordingly in an email on Sundays. He avoided phone calls, he told the court, because they weren91裸聊视频檛 recorded but he would sometimes answer or call back to see if there was an emergency.

Those answered phone calls, Gabe told the court, would 91裸聊视频渙ften91裸聊视频� end with him hanging up on Lisa or vice versa.

The defence questioned Gabe on the type of language he used with Lisa, particularly after she tried to kill herself in 2012.

Defence counsel Tony Paisana asked if Gabe told Lisa that she 91裸聊视频渁bandoned91裸聊视频� Teagan by trying to commit suicide. He also asked Gabe if he ever mocked Lisa91裸聊视频檚 intelligence.

Gabe said he couldn91裸聊视频檛 recall either.

91裸聊视频淚 think she took opportunities to make my life more difficult,91裸聊视频� Gabe told the court.

In the months leading to Teagan91裸聊视频檚 death, Gabe told the court he noticed a change in Lisa91裸聊视频檚 tone. Paisana suggested Lisa was 91裸聊视频渟piralling.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 thought something was clearly different,91裸聊视频� Gabe responded.

The trial was initially booked until Dec. 7, but is now expected to continue for several more weeks.