Close X
Friday, December 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Defence To Call 1st Witness At Trial Of Couple Charged In Son's Meningitis Death

The Canadian Press, 11 Apr, 2016 12:16 PM
    LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — The defence is to call its first witness today at the trial of a former Alberta couple charged in the death of their toddler son from bacterial meningitis.
     
    The toddler's parents, David and Collet Stephan, formerly of Glenwood, Alta., are charged with failing to provide the necessities of life for their son Ezekiel.
     
    Defence lawyer Shawn Buckley has already told the jury that evidence will show the almost 19-month-old boy appeared to get better at times — right up until the night he stopped breathing and had to be rushed to hospital in March 2012.
     
    The trial in Lethbridge has heard that the boy had been sick for about 2 1/2 weeks, and his parents gave him natural remedies and homemade smoothies containing hot pepper, ginger root, horseradish and onion.
     
    After being taken to a local facility, Ezekiel was rushed to a Calgary hospital, where he died a week later from bacterial meningitis and a lung infection.
     
    The Crown contends the couple didn't do enough to ensure the toddler had proper access to medical care before he became seriously ill.
     
    In earlier testimony, a pediatrician said Ezekiel had less than a one per cent chance of surviving by the time he was taken to hospital.
     
    Dr. Shauna Burkholder, who works at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, said medical staff at the smaller hospital near the Stephan home had been able to revive Ezekiel, but the boy was probably already brain dead at that point.
     
    The jury has also heard that a friend who was a nurse told the Stephans that their boy might have viral meningitis and advised them to take him to a doctor.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Fire Destroys Community Hall In Northern Ontario First Nation

    Fire Destroys Community Hall In Northern Ontario First Nation
    Robert Nault says he is thankful no one was hurt in the blaze Thursday morning. 

    Fire Destroys Community Hall In Northern Ontario First Nation

    Justin Trudeau Says Money For Transit To Roll Out This Year, With Few Restrictions

    Justin Trudeau Says Money For Transit To Roll Out This Year, With Few Restrictions
    The prime minister didn't specify how much individual communities would receive, but he did say Ontario in particular could expect to receive about half the money — $1.5 billion.

    Justin Trudeau Says Money For Transit To Roll Out This Year, With Few Restrictions

    How To Tackle Surrey's Gun Violence: Mayor Linda Hepner Wants To Change Prosecution Rules

    How To Tackle Surrey's Gun Violence: Mayor Linda Hepner Wants To Change Prosecution Rules
    Hepner proposes to change the rules for criminal prosecution to get more accused culprits before the courts.

    How To Tackle Surrey's Gun Violence: Mayor Linda Hepner Wants To Change Prosecution Rules

    One Dead, One In Hospital As Car Struck By Freight Train In Brampton, Ont.

    One Dead, One In Hospital As Car Struck By Freight Train In Brampton, Ont.
    Friday's crash took place just before 10:30 a.m. at a crossing in Brampton, Ont.

    One Dead, One In Hospital As Car Struck By Freight Train In Brampton, Ont.

    Saskatoon Man Charged In Sex-Assault, Robbery Case Near University Of Victoria

    Saskatoon Man Charged In Sex-Assault, Robbery Case Near University Of Victoria
     A Saskatchewan man is accused of forcing his way into the home of two young women on Vancouver Island and sexually assaulted one of them earlier this year.

    Saskatoon Man Charged In Sex-Assault, Robbery Case Near University Of Victoria

    Helium Balloons Banned At Surrey Vaisakhi Parade

    Helium Balloons Banned At Surrey Vaisakhi Parade
    A statement from organizers asked businesses and attendees to respect the event’s new “no helium balloons” policy.

    Helium Balloons Banned At Surrey Vaisakhi Parade