A man accused of killing a Calgary woman and her five-year-old daughter was sent to hospital prior to a court appearance Friday morning.
Edward Downey, who is 48, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of Sara Baillie and her daughter Taliyah Marsman in 2016.
He was to appear for a case-management hearing prior to his upcoming murder trial, but his lawyer Gavin Wolch told court Downey was unable to attend because of a medical concern.
Wolch declined to reveal what happened except to say his client, who was being held at the Calgary Remand Centre, was in hospital.
Justice Beth Hughes said she had received an email prior to the hearing that said Downey was unavailable because of a “serious medical emergency.”
“How long has this medical emergency been going on?” she asked.
“I believe this morning,” Wolch replied.
In an emailed statement, Alberta Justice said one inmate at the Calgary Remand Centre required emergency medical help which centre staff provided. Paramedics were called and the inmate was then rushed to hospital.
Alberta Justice said an internal review of the incident is underway, adding the inmate is “currently receiving medical care.”
The matter has been adjourned until Wednesday if Downey is well enough to attend.
A three-week trial before a judge and jury is scheduled to begin Nov. 26.
Baillie, who was 34, was found dead in her northwest Calgary home on July 11, 2016, after she failed to show up for work.
When investigators realized Taliyah was missing, they issued an Amber Alert. Marsman’s body was discovered a week later near a rural road about eight kilometres east of Calgary.
Police said Downey was known to both victims and has been in custody since his arrest.
Sources told Global News Downey that attempted to hang himself, adding he is expected to survive the incident.
The matter has been adjourned until Wednesday.
With files from Global’s Nancy Hixt.