David and Collet Stephan (Lethbridge News Now)

By Lara Fominoff

Child abuse paediatrician testifies at Stephan retrial

Jun 20, 2019 | 5:50 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Compared with the testimony and cross-examination of most of the Crown witnesses, Dr. Jennifer D’Mello’s time on the stand on Wednesday, June 19 was very brief.

The paediatrician, clinical lead in emergency, and child abuse consulting physician at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary was asked by Co-Crown Prosecutor Britta Kristensen why and how she came to interact with 19-month-old Ezekiel Stephan, and his parents Collet and David Stephan.

David and Collet are both charged with one count of failing to provide the necessaries of life after their toddler son died of what the medical examiner earlier in the trial told the court was bacterial meningitis. They were originally convicted back in 2016 however the Supreme Court of Canada overturned their conviction and ordered a new trial in May 2018.

Kristensen asked about the events surrounding her interactions with the Stephans, including examining Ezekiel, and speaking to Collet on March 15, 2012. The doctor’s job was to find out how the toddler ended up so life threateningly ill, and when the child last felt well.

D’Mello told the court she had one meeting with the parents and that she had a strong recollection of receiving information from Collet, but that David had been in and out of the room.

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She was not involved with Ezekiel’s treatment.

Under cross examination by Collet’s Defense Lawyer Ingrid Hess, D’Mello was asked how she had introduced herself to the Stephans. She was also asked whether she had told the parents she had been called in because another doctor had suspected there might have been issues of neglect or abuse, and that she was tasked as being an investigator of sorts.

D’Mello agreed that her purpose was to examine the child and to investigate why children present the way they do, including Ezekiel.

“You didn’t identify yourself – you didn’t tell them you were considering the possibility of lack of treatment of the child. You withheld that you were a child abuse consultant,” said Hess.

“Correct,” said D’Mello.

The doctor then told the court she was not intentionally withholding that information, but she also did not want to create a division between the Stephans and the medical team treating their son. She did not want to add to an already stressful situation.

“So, you go into a room with the mindset that medical attention had not been sought?” asked Hess.

“I go in as best I can with an open mind,” responded D’Mello.

Hess then asked the doctor why she had destroyed her original notes about her examination of Ezekiel on March 15, 2012.

D’Mello testified that she didn’t want to carry around confidential information, and that there was no reason to keep the information when she had already written an official report.

The trial continues Thursday.