By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Crown Wraps Up Cross Examination of David Stephan

Apr 13, 2016 | 9:22 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The cross examination of David Stephan wrapped up Wednesday, following nearly a day and a half of questions from the Crown.

David and his wife Collet are charged with failing to provide the necessities of life, after their 18-month old son Ezekiel, died of bacterial meningitis in March of 2012.

The Crown explored the conversations the couple had with the Social Services Response Team and a member of the RCMP, after Ezekiel was taken to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. David noted that he became concerned and even fearful that they would be viewed as neglectful parents, and potentially lose their other child as well.

During the start of the cross examination on Tuesday, David had repeated that they didn’t see the need to get Ezekiel medical care, as he showed signs of improvement when they used natural remedies at home. He provided examples, saying they were able to take him to church and parent pre-school, where he was active and seemed well.

Following that up today, the Crown asked David why he didn’t bring those examples up when talking to authorities at the hospital, in the immediate aftermath. His reply was that he had told the doctors about the problems Ezekiel had been experiencing over the span of two weeks, but didn’t think the improvements were relevant or would help in his treatment. Having delivered that narrative several times, he said it became ingrained and he just repeated it.

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From there, the Crown asked why David told the officer that Ezekiel spent most of his time in bed, and that simply moving his arms was an improvement. He said he couldn’t “reconcile” those statements and didn’t know why he made them, continuing that he wasn’t thinking clearly and adding, “You’re almost in a war zone.”

When the Crown asked if that’s the story he told because that was the full story, David responded, “Absolutely not.”

They then moved on to the process of trying to diagnose Ezekiel at home, with David confirming that Collet had suggested the possibility of viral meningitis to him. After David acknowledged that he understood the disease had the potential to be lethal, if it were the bacterial form, the Crown pressed the question of why they wouldn’t take the child to a doctor to stay on the safe side. He told the court, “Hindsight’s 20-20,” adding later, “If Ezekiel’s symptoms were severe, we would have taken him in.”

The defence will have another chance to ask David questions Thursday morning, with Collet expected to take the stand next.