Judge gives prison time to Calgary couple in toddler’s infection death

Court heard their toddler, John, didn’t see a doctor until the day before he died from a staph infection in November 2013.

Jurors saw photos of the dead boy with a red rash all over his body and with blackened toes.

A forensic pathologist’s report said he was malnourished and died from a staph infection.

The jury was also shown screen shots of online searches for natural remedies for gangrene, such as cabbage leaves and cayenne.

Prosecutors argued the Clarks waited too long to take the gravely ill boy to hospital and their sentence should send a message of denunciation and deterrence.

The Crown had asked for a sentence of four to five years, while defence lawyers recommended terms ranging from probation to eight months in jail.

Prosecutor Jennifer Crews said during sentencing submissions last week that it’s clear the Clarks loved their son very much. But she argued the parents were responsible for the helpless child, and their failure to seek medical care as he grew sicker over a period of weeks was not a momentary lapse in judgment.

The couple’s lawyers suggested at trial that doctors at the Alberta Children’s Hospital were to blame because they raised the boy’s sodium and fluid levels too aggressively.

David Chow, Jeromie Clark’s lawyer, described the Clarks as “loving parents that were misguided” and questioned what putting them behind bars would accomplish.

John Phillips, Jennifer Clark’s lawyer, told court: “This is not a case of a child being starved or abused.”

David Stephan attended much of the the Clark’s trial.

by Lauren Krugel - The Canadian Press

Judge gives prison time to Calgary couple in toddler’s infection death

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