Mother of toddler resumes testimony at manslaughter trial of former babysitter

Testimony continued on Monday in London for the trial looking into the death of a 15-month-old baby. CTV London’s Nick Paparella has the details.

The defence recalled the mother of 15-month-old Nathaniel McLellan to continue her testimony as the lengthy manslaughter trial resumed on Monday at the London Courthouse.

It was the ninth day that Rose-Anne Van De Wiele has spent on the stand testifying about the circumstances surrounding the death of her toddler, who died in October 2015 after being at the home daycare of Meggin Van Hoof in Strathroy.

The mother broke down several times as she recalled picking up the lifeless body of her son from Van Hoof and taking him to hospital.

“I wanted to be with him for every breath he was taking on this earth because he was dying,” she said.

Questioned by defence lawyer Geoff Snow about why she met with doctors and police on her own, she said it wasn’t until nine months after the death that she learned more about how the boy died.

“As a grieving parent you flip flop because you desperately want it to be an accident,” she said.

Van De Wiele said doctors told her Nathaniel died from a non-accidental brain injury due to a lack of oxygen, a direct blow, a fall or seizure.

“I didn’t know what to think... for 9 months I always thought there’s no way anyone would harm him,” she testified.

“I know that my child was fine when I dropped him off...the fatal blow had to have happened after.”

Charged with manslaughter, the 46-year-old Van Hoof has pled not guilty.

Earlier at the trial and after days of legal wrangling, Justice Michael Carnegie dismissed an abuse of process application on Monday morning. It was brought forward by Snow claiming that the Crown was putting up roadblocks and impeding his case.

Five more weeks have been added to the trial which was originally slated to last a month back in the fall.

Van De Wiele’s testimony is expected to resume on Tuesday.