A west Central Alberta couple has been ordered to stand trial, accused of starving their baby.
The infant girl and her older brother, a toddler, were seized and police were called to investigate further late in December 2011, when the baby was taken to a local health care centre for treatment.
Both parents, in their 20s at the time, were charged with failing to provide the necessities of life and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
The criminal negligence charge was dismissed on Monday at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing before Judge John Holmes in Red Deer provincial court. The parents will proceed to trial on the charge of failing to provide the necessities of life.
Preliminary hearings may be held to determine the strength of the Crown’s case before proceeding to trial.
The two parents, represented by defence counsel Patty MacNaughton and Walter Kubanek, return to Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on March 3 to set a trial date.