The manslaughter trial concerning the death of 15-month-old Nathaniel McLellan continues to face significant delays, now further hampered by legal wrangling over the admissibility of audio recordings and media coverage.
Court proceedings were paused on Thursday as both the Crown and the defense debated whether taped conversations between Nathaniel’s mother, Rose-Anne Van De Wiele, and medical professionals can be entered into evidence. Van De Wiele made the recordings shortly after her son’s death, but they have yet to be formally introduced in court.
The trial, which began in early September, was originally scheduled to last four weeks. However, Van De Wiele remains the only witness to testify so far.
Before halting the presentation of evidence, Justice Michael Carnegie acknowledged the complexity of the case, stating, “This is a unique situation.”
Nathaniel McLellan was in the care of a babysitter at a home in Strathroy when he suffered a fatal head injury. He was rushed to hospital but later died. In 2021—six years after the child’s death—the Ontario Provincial Police charged 46-year-old Meggin Van Hoof with one count of manslaughter. She has pleaded not guilty.
In addition to the recordings, both legal teams are disputing the impact of prior media coverage, including news reports and podcasts discussing the child’s death before charges were laid against Van Hoof.
The trial has been adjourned until Monday, allowing both sides time to coordinate and schedule the next phase of court proceedings.
Written by: myFM News