The tragic outcome of a young girl's death after she accidentally ingested methadone found in her home refrigerator played out in an Elliot Lake courtroom Tuesday.
Judge Robert Villeneuve sentenced the girl's mother to a probation term following her conviction for causing death by criminal negligence, failing to provide the necessaries of life. The girl died following an incident at her family home in 2016.
A publication ban prohibits the publication of names or any other information by which the family could be identified.
The mother, who is 37, was sentenced to 18 months probation.and her father, 39, will be on probation for 12 months. Court was told the girl ingested methadone being stored in the family refrigerator. When the mother was told what had happened, she let her daughter fall asleep on a couch but did not seek medical advice.
The mother had been prescribed the methadone to relieve pain from injuries she suffered in an unrelated crash.
"Losing a child is painful for both of them, plus facing charges," said prosecutor David Kirk in his sentencing submission.
The mother's lawyer, Rene Fabris, told the court, "She checked and the child seemed ok."
He added that, "both parents have paid a terrible price for this one occasion and will for the rest of their lives. They're good parents and they made a mistake."
Villeneuve accepted a joint submission for sentencing. During her 18-month probation period, he ordered the girl's mother to report to a probation officer, work at rehabilitation, be trained in first aid and CPR, get grief counselling and keep all household medications locked up. As in any such case, she is automatically forbidden by law from possessing firearms or ammunition. As well, she must turn in a DNA sample to the East Algoma OPP.
The girl's father, as part of his 12-month probation term, must also turn in a DNA sample to the OPP. The judge said he was troubled by the man's original refusal to accept probation as part of his sentence.
"I am very sorry for what you and your wife have been through," said Villeneuve.
He ordered the father to continue to receive counselling as part of his probation sentence. The father was convicted of failing to provide the necessaries of life.
The police investigation was conducted with members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) East Algoma Detachment, East Algoma (Elliot Lake) Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Services (FIS), under Detective Inspector Mark Zulinski of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), assisted by the Office of the Chief Coroner.
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