‘I love you all:’ Father to supporters before sentencing in meningitis death

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – A couple to be sentenced for their role in the death of their son were given a heroes welcome by tearful supporters in front of a southern Alberta courthouse.

David and Collet Stephan were found guilty in April of failing to provide the necessaries of life for 19-month-old Ezekiel, who died of bacterial meningitis in 2012.

People in a crowd of about 70 people shouted “We love you” as the couple hugged and thanked supporters at the Lethbridge courthouse.

David Stephan told them he appreciated their love at a time when what he called “misinformation” has turned people against the couple.

The Stephans told court they thought their son had the flu, so they gave him natural remedies including hot peppers, garlic, onions and horseradish instead of taking him to a doctor.

He later stopped breathing and died in a Calgary hospital.

David Stephan called for supporters to rally at the courthouse Friday in an interview earlier this week with producers of a documentary film called “Vaxxed.”

Maureen Furtado heeded the call, holding a sign that read “Family. Consider the sibling’s future.” She said she doesn’t know the family but believes they are being ill-treated.

“I’m here to support the family … and support the family unit and to support parental rights,” she said.

“I would like to see that this doesn’t happen to another family. This is a terrible thing to happen to a family. They’ve suffered enough.”

A handful of counter-protesters set up across the courtyard at the courthouse. Most were medical doctors.

Carrying signs that read: “Kids Lives Count” and “Children have a right to live and not die from a curable disease,” they said they wanted to send a different message.

“We think it’s a shame that these protesters here think that the only injustice that’s occurred is an infringement on their parental rights. In fact, as a mother, I would like to respectfully remind them that parenting is a responsibility and not a right,” said Dr. Kirsten Jones, a general surgeon in Lethbridge.

“You can not impose your personal views on your children in a way that endangers their life and in fact those children have a right to grow up to become independently thinking adults and to form their own moral judgments at that time.”

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