Arrest warrant issued for mother charged in death of son

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Calgary woman charged in the death of her toddler son.

Jennifer Clark was scheduled to appear in Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench on Friday to confirm her trial date for October, but she failed to show up.

Defence counsel Dale Fedorchuk said he was worried about his client’s safety.

“I have grave concern for her health and welfare,” Fedorchuk told Justice Earl Wilson.

Crown prosecutor Shane Parker said police have not been able to locate Clark and she is no longer living in the apartment she was sharing with her husband, Jeromie Clark. The property is owned by his parents.

“Jeromie Clark, we have no issue with,” Parker said. But he said attempts to serve his wife with a summons to appear in court have been unsuccessful.

Both Clarks are charged with criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life for their 14-monthold son, John. The boy died in May 2013, from an infection complicated by malnutrition.

The couple was scheduled to stand trial in June 2017, but that was delayed so they could seek experts to testify in their defence.

The delay was only agreed to by Parker after they waived any possible application to argue their case was unreasonably delayed.

Parker had earlier opposed an adjournment on Jennifer Clark’s part to get a new lawyer, suggesting she may have been attempting to stall the case to set up her husband for an application for a stay of charges based on unreasonable delay.

She subsequently hired Fedorchuk to act on her behalf.

At the time of the adjournment application last April, Justice Glen Poelman said the woman wasn’t being forthright with the court.

“In my view, she has not acted reasonably and honestly and diligently as required in the circumstances of this case to secure a replacement of counsel,” he said.