More than 40 family members, friends and supporters of David and Collet Stephan filled a Lethbridge courtroom Tuesday while the trial against the pair continued.
The couple is charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life in the death of their nearly 19-month-old boy.
READ MORE: Alberta father whose son died from meningitis testifies at trial
Defence lawyer Shaun Buckley called his next witness, Alberta’s former chief medical examiner Dr. Anny Sauvageau, who is originally from Quebec. She held the position in Alberta from 2011 to 2014.
The morning was filled with Sauvageau going through her qualifications as an expert forensic pathologist with the defence lawyer.
She testified the majority of her research is on asphyxia.
READ MORE: Parents of Alberta boy who died from meningitis thought he had cold or flu: defence
Sauvageau was also responsible for hiring Dr. Adiagbo, the medical examiner who was called by the Crown and performed the autopsy on 18-month-old Ezekiel.
In the evening, Sauvageau testified she disagreed with the Crown’s expert that Ezekiel had bacterial meningitis and said it was more likely viral meningitis. She said she believes it was a viral infection in his throat that caused the toddler to stop breathing by obstructing his airways, indicating that the cause of death was most likely the time it took for EMS to get an airway as they weren’t properly equipped.
She then testified she believed Ezekiel would have survived viral meningitis with proper medical intervention.
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In the afternoon, the Crown questioned Sauvageau on her qualifications and she testified she was not made aware of any issues with his work.
Crown prosecutor Lisa Weich said to Sauvageau that she did not leave her position with the Medical Examiner’s Office voluntarily.
Weich stated: you were made to leave.
“My contract was not renewed,” Sauvageau said. “I was surprised.”
READ MORE: ‘Very sick little boy’: Pediatrician testifies in case of Alberta boy’s meningitis death
The Crown also asked if the doctor currently had a lawsuit against the Department of Justice and Solicitor General, which overseas the Medical Examiner’s Office for wrongful dismissal.
She said yes: “I’m suing very specific people. They are no longer with the Department of Justice.” Sauvageau added she has no issue with the department as a whole.
“It’s important, as an expert witness, we do not belong to anyone,” she said. “We are neutral.”
The trial will continue Wednesday.
With files from reporter Patrick Burles with Country 95
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