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Sentencing Hearing Set for Couple Found Guilty of Failing to Provide Necessaries of Life

Jun 13, 2016 | 11:29 AM

LETHBRIDGE – A sentencing hearing has been set for a couple, who were found guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life for their todler.

Ezekiel Stephan was just 18-months old when he died as a result of bacterial meningitis in March of 2012.

The parents were found guilty on April 26, following a lengthy jury trial that spanned over nearly two months. It took the jury less than 24-hours to come to a decision.

The Crown’s argument had been that the Stephans waited too long to get medical care for Ezekiel, and that by taking him to a doctor they could have been saved him from bacterial meningitis.

The defence mounted an argument that Ezekiel didn’t have bacterial meningitis, but rather the less serious viral form of the illness. They placed the blame on the ambulance that was sent to help him.

When the case returns to court on June 23, the two sides will present their sentencing arguments.

There is no minimum penalty for failing to provide the necessities of life, with the maximum set at five years in prison.