Defence Outlines Their Case in Opening Address
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LETHBRIDGE – The defence made their opening statement to the jury Wednesday afternoon, in the trial of David and Collet Stephan.
They’re accused of failing to provide the necessities of life for their 18-month old son Ezekiel, who died of bacterial meningitis in March of 2012.
Sean Buckley started by saying the focus should be on what a reasonably prudent parent would do, and whether the Stephans actions were a marked departure from that. Several times through his address to the jury, Buckley said Ezekiel showed signs of improvement that made the parents think they were through the worst of his illness. He added that the improvements coincided with home remedies they were using, and when his condition got worse, it matched when they had stopped those treatments.
Buckley noted that the Stephans will be taking the stand, and took some time to discuss statements they made to the police and doctors, the night Ezekiel was admitted to hospital. He told the jury that they were “emotionally distraught” and tired, suggesting their testimony could differ from what they said that night.
