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David and Collet Stephan outside Lethbridge courthouse

Father accused in son’s death says boy wasn’t sick enough to make parents worry

Jun 24, 2019 | 5:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE — A father accused in his son’s death took the stand in a Lethbridge courtroom on Monday (June 24) where the man and his wife are accused of failing to get medical attention for the toddler.

David Stephan and his wife, Collet, are charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life to 19-month-old Ezekiel, who died of bacterial meningitis in 2012.

The Stephans treated their son with herbal remedies and didn’t seek medical attention until he stopped breathing.

Stephan, who is acting as his own lawyer, has been telling his story to a court in Lethbridge in what amounts to a monologue.

He said he and his wife thought Ezekiel had croup and at first he appeared to be recovering.

The boy got sick again, although Stephan told the judge it wasn’t anything that made them worry that anything was seriously wrong.

The trial will continue for several more weeks.