Alberta judge denies bail for woman accused in girl's drowning at Wabamun Lake
CBC
An Alberta woman accused in the drowning death of a five-year-old girl silently shook her head Wednesday as a judge denied her bail pending trial.
Mary Quinn, dressed in a yellow, institutional jumpsuit, heard the ruling while appearing remotely via video in provincial court in Stony Plain, Alta., west of Edmonton, on Wednesday.
Justice Rosanna Saccomani told the court there is a concern Quinn could pose a significant risk to public safety if she were released.
Saccomani said the Crown prosecutor detailed a strong case against Quinn, calling the matter a "parent's worst nightmare."
WATCH | Woman charged in connection to death of five-year-old girl:
Quinn, 35, is charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life after the girl, whose identity is protected under a publication ban, drowned Oct. 13 at Wabamun Lake, west of Edmonton.
No other publication ban was ordered Wednesday or imposed on a bail hearing last week when lawyers for both sides argued the details of Quinn's case.
At last week's hearing, Crown prosecutor John Schmidt urged Quinn not be released. It's not believed Quinn deliberately planned to kill the child, he said, but he said her actions show an attempt to hide her involvement.
He alleged Quinn told different stories to bystanders about what happened, ranging from the girl falling out of the canoe to chasing a duck and flipping the craft.
Saccomani said Wednesday that Quinn's story doesn't match those provided by witnesses.
The Crown previously told court Quinn was violating the terms of her house arrest under another offence when she went to Wabamun Lake that day.
Quinn didn't get permission from her bail supervisor to visit the lake, he said.
Court did not hear how the child ended up in Quinn's canoe, but Schmidt said the pair were strangers to each other and that the child's father didn't give the accused the OK to take her out on the water.
Neither wore a life-jacket, said Schmidt.
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