Rose-Anne Van De Wiele was the first witness to testify in the manslaughter trial examining the circumstances of her 15-month-old son Nathaniel McLellan’s death. She spent the entire previous week on the witness stand, answering questions about the events leading up to the toddler’s death, which occurred shortly after he was picked up from a babysitter’s home in Strathroy. The court has been told the child died from a head injury.
Van De Wiele has consistently stated that on October 27, 2015, her son was in good health when she left him in the care of the babysitter.
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Geoff Snow questioned her about an incident the night before, when Nathaniel was reportedly bumped by a metal door. Van De Wiele denied that this caused her son’s injury, insisting he showed no signs of harm when she dropped him off the next morning.
She described receiving an urgent phone call just hours after leaving Nathaniel at the home of 46-year-old Meggin Van Hoof. According to Van De Wiele, Van Hoof told her the child had fallen and struck his head. Van De Wiele immediately went to retrieve her son and brought him to the hospital, where she said he appeared limp, barely breathing, and unresponsive.
Following a long investigation by Ontario Provincial Police, Van Hoof was charged with manslaughter in 2021, six years after the incident. She has pleaded not guilty.
Toward the end of the day’s proceedings, the defence raised the possibility that Van De Wiele may have opened the door in a way that caused the injury herself. She responded that she didn’t believe she used much force, but acknowledged she couldn’t clearly remember.
The trial is set to continue this week.
Written by: myFM News