For a fourth consecutive day, Kent McLellan remained on the witness stand as defence lawyer Geoff Snow continued his cross-examination.
McLellan, whose 15-month-old son Nathaniel died in October 2015 after spending time at a home daycare run by Meggin Van Hoof in Strathroy, testified that he believed his son was harmed while in the caregiver’s care and wanted Van Hoof to be the focus of a formal investigation.
As time passed without any charges being laid, McLellan said he began to question how Strathroy police were managing the case and grew increasingly uneasy with the lack of progress.
When Snow asked whether McLellan believed police were shielding the accused, he testified that he felt key information was not being shared and that the process did not appear transparent. He added that, at the time, he described the situation as being “fixed.”
Nathaniel had been rushed to hospital with a catastrophic head injury and was taken off life support several days later.
Investigators did not lay charges against Van Hoof until years after the child’s death. She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter.
When asked whether Van Hoof had destroyed his life, McLellan told the court that the loss of his son was deeply traumatic for his family and marked a devastating turning point in their lives.
The court has heard that McLellan’s testimony is expected to conclude on Wednesday, after which additional witnesses will be called.
Written by: C. Soares