Mother denies failing to get treatment for boy who died
The mother of five-year-old Leon Michael Le Fleming Jayet-Cole, who died in hospital, is denying a charge of failing to get him medical treatment and the case is heading for trial.
Emma Le Fleming Roberts, 37, of Redwood, put in her not guilty plea before a Christchurch District Court registrar ahead of a scheduled court appearance today. She then did not need to make an appearance in court before a judge.
The registrar remanded her on continued bail to a Crown case review hearing on September 21. The remand indicates she has elected jury trial.
The autistic boy’s stepfather, James Stedman Roberts, a 34-year-old labourer, remains in custody on remand on a charge of murdering Leon on May 27, in Christchurch.
James Roberts is next due to appear in the High Court in Christchurch for a pre-trial session on September 11.
The charge against Emma Roberts specifies that on May 27, having the care of Leon, she “omitted to discharge a legal duty” to seek medical treatment for him, which was likely to cause serious illness or death.
It states that the omission was “a major departure from the standard of care to be expected of a reasonable person”.
Leon was admitted to Christchurch Hospital on that date with serious head injuries and died soon after.
Category: News
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