2nd degree murder charge against Edmonton mother in newborn’s death stayed

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story said police were called to the home in March 2018, but they were called in March 2017. The story has been corrected. We regret the error.

A second-degree murder charge against a woman accused in the death of her 11-day-old daughter has been stayed.

Police were called to an Edmonton home in March 2017 to investigate a report of a baby not breathing.

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Almost two months later, Michelle Rice was charged after autopsy and toxicology tests confirmed her baby, Eliana Rice, died from a lethal dose of methamphetamine.

A trial for Rice, who is 34, was to begin next week, but court documents show the murder charge was last October.

“The Crown has a continuing obligation to assess the reasonable likelihood of conviction at all stages of the proceedings of a prosecution,” Alberta Justice said in a statement.

“While fulfilling that ongoing obligation, the Crown determined that there was no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction and the charge was stayed on October 4, 2019.”

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In Canada, stayed charges can be reactivated by the Crown within one year.