Accused parents allowed to attend funeral of daughter taken off life support

EDMONTON – An Edmonton couple accused of abusing their two-year-old daughter who died when she was taken off life support will be allowed to attend her funeral.

The Crown has said it is willing to allow the couple to attend an Islamic service for the girl sometime this weekend.

However, security arrangements need to be made first with the Edmonton Remand Centre.

The parents face charges of aggravated assault, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to provide the necessities of life — offences that are expected to be upgraded now that the girl has died.

An autopsy is being done on the toddler first.

A bail review for the parents which was supposed to be heard today did not go ahead.

The child died Thursday night after doctors removed her from the ventilator that was keeping her alive.

The Supreme Court of Canada had refused to stay an Alberta Appeal Court ruling that the girl be taken off life support.

Doctors testified the child, in a coma for three months, had an irreversible brain injury and would never regain consciousness.

Paramedics called to a home on May 25 found the girl and her twin sister suffering from injuries and severe malnourishment.