One of two women held in child-abuse case denied bail

A woman facing a slew of charges related to allegations of violent child abuse rolled her eyes as the prosecutor in the case argued against her and her co-accused being released on bail.

The two women — aged 23 and 25 — cannot be named because of a publication ban in place to protect the identities of the five children who were allegedly abused.

The 25-year-old’s request to be released was denied Wednesday by provincial court Judge Steven Bilodeau following a bail review during which the prosecution opposed the release of both women. The 23-year-old’s lawyer asked for an adjournment that was granted, and he will address his client’s application for release in late September.

Evidence and arguments heard during the hearing cannot be reported because of a court-ordered publication ban.

Both women were denied bail in February, but were able to seek a review of that decision Wednesday by Bilodeau after he presided over a preliminary hearing in the case. The women had initially both faced a charge of attempted murder of a young girl, but the prosecution is no longer proceeding on those charges.

The 25-year-old faces five counts of unlawful confinement and two counts each of aggravated assault, abandoning a child, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and failure to provide the necessaries of life. The 23-year-old faces the same charges, plus an additional two counts of assault with a weapon.

Speaking outside the courthouse after the decision, the 25-year-old woman’s lawyer, Ajay Juneja, said he respects the court’s decision, but said he will seek bail again when the case moves up to the Court of Queen’s Bench later this year.

He said it appears a trial won’t be scheduled until 2020.