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Jury trial begins for southern Alberta parents accused in toddler's death

The Crown says the parents of a toddler who died of meningitis should have got him medical attention long before he stopped breathing.

LETHBRIDGE — The Crown says the parents of a toddler who died of meningitis should have got him medical attention long before he stopped breathing.

David Stephan, who is 32, and his wife Collet Stephan, who is 35, have pleaded not guilty to failing to provide the necessities of life for 19-month-old Ezekiel, who died in March 2012.

The trial is being heard by a jury of eight women and four men.

RCMP said at the time that the boy had been ill for a couple of weeks but his parents only called for an ambulance when he stopped breathing.

He was airlifted to a hospital in Calgary and, after five days, doctors took him off life support machines.

The trial is scheduled to continue until March 24.