Stephan trial resumes with testimony from former Alberta medical examiner

Jul 29, 2019 | 1:07 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Court of Queen’s Bench trial for David and Collet Stephan that was originally scheduled to conclude at the end of June, continued in Lethbridge Monday, July 29.

David and Collet are each charged with one count of failing to provide the necessaries of life, after their 19-month-old son Ezekiel died in March, 2012 of meningitis. The couple was initially convicted, however in May 2018 the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial for the pair, citing incorrect instructions to the jury.

The current trial, which began June 3, is judge-alone. The Crown’s case concluded weeks ago, and since then the Defense has been calling its own witnesses.

One of those witnesses testifying is former Alberta medical examiner Dr. Bamidele Agdeabo, who performed the autopsy on Ezekiel. He concluded that the child died of bacterial meningitis and a lung infection.

While on the stand Monday, he was asked by Collet’s lawyer Jason Demers to go through a subsequent 18-page report completed by another former Alberta medical examiner, questioning his findings and his conclusions.

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Dr. Adeagbo told the court that Dr. Anny Sauvigeau’s report was “not the way medicine is practised,” and incorrect. Dr. Sauvigeau has previously testified that she believed Adeagbo’s conclusions were wrong.

Adeagbo’s testimony will continue Tuesday, then the trial will again recess until Aug. 7 when both the Crown and Defense will argue whether his testimony should be allowed into the trial, and whether he can be deemed an expert witness.

Sauvigeau is expected to testify between Aug. 26 and 29. There will still be closing arguments after that, and then future dates will be needed for Justice Clackson’s verdict, followed by possible sentencing arguments and dates.

by Lara Fominoff