Defence Calls Collet Stephan to Testify

The defence proceeded to ask her about statements they made to an RCMP officer, after Ezekiel was hospitalized. In a recorded interview played in court, Collet told the officer that Ezekiel had tugged at his diaper on one occasion, and that it appeared to be “neurological.” On the stand she explained that neurological isn’t a word she would use, and that she was likely “regurgitating” information she got from talking to doctors, after learning that they found evidence of seizures during a CT scan. She continued by saying she was anxious, 20-weeks pregnant, and riding a roller-coaster of emotions.

The Stephan’s lawyer also asked why she never mentioned improvements in Ezekiel’s condition to the officer, specifically a day when they took him to church and he played with other children. A major part of their defence is that they didn’t take him to a doctor because he seemed to be getting better. Collet replied, “I have no idea,” before adding, “He wasn’t sick that day.”

When asked about a statement David made to the officer, in which he said it was an improvement for Ezekiel to move his arms, she responded, “That’s incorrect”, but pointed out that David had been away on business at the time.

The defence then focused on a text conversation Collet had with her midwife, Terrie Meynders, who is also a registered nurse. When asked how Ezekiel was doing, a day after Collet said he was playing with other kids at church, she responded that he was on the mend and “Still grumpy and whiny, but breathing.” She couldn’t offer an explanation, but said pregnancy hormones may have played a part.

Several days after that, Collet asked Meynders to come over and look at Ezekiel, which she did. In Meynders testimony earlier in the trial, she said that after suggesting they look into the possibility of meningitis because of a case she had seen a few weeks prior, she told Collet to take Ezekiel to a doctor to be sure. Collet said she couldn’t remember that, but did remember Meynders saying a doctor would likely turn them away because of a lack of symptoms. Collet noted that they did some research online, which indicated Ezekiel could have viral meningitis, a form far less severe than bacterial meningitis, but couldn’t remember if she did any of the tests with Ezekiel that were listed on the site.

Before concluding the direct examination, the Stephan’s lawyer took Collet back to the night that Ezekiel stopped breathing, bringing on another flood of emotion.

Through tears she told the court, “He choked, he stopped breathing for a few seconds.” While David called 911, she said Ezekiel’s breathing returned and they decided to drive to the Cardston hospital and meet the ambulance on the way. Inside the vehicle, Ezekiel stopped breathing again and she began CPR, saying his face “just kept getting bluer and bluer.”

The Crown will begin cross examination of Collet Friday morning.

by Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Defence Calls Collet Stephan to Testify

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