15.76°C Vancouver

Mar 25, 2025 7:14 PM - The Canadian Press

Judge's illness delays sentencing for parents guilty of Calgary toddler's death

Share On
judges-illness-delays-sentencing-for-parents-guilty-of-calgary-toddlers-death
Justice Glen Poelman told the court as the hearing was to start that he had been sick all weekend and wasn't well enough to proceed.

A sentencing hearing for a Calgary couple who killed their badly burned and emaciated toddler has been delayed because the judge fell ill. Sonya Pasqua and Michael Sinclair pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December after Gabriel Sinclair-Pasqua died in 2021 after suffering major burns to a third of his body.

Justice Glen Poelman told the court as the hearing was to start that he had been sick all weekend and wasn't well enough to proceed.

A new hearing date will be set on Friday. An agreed statement of facts says the 18-month-old's parents didn't seek medical treatment and tried to treat the burns with honey before he died from an infection and head trauma.

A pediatric surgeon has said the burns would have required emergency medical care and immediate hospitalization. Court heard the couple told officials different versions of how the boy was injured, including that he hit his head on a toilet and that he pulled a pot of boiling water off a stove.

Latest news

john-horgan-campus-opens-in-langford
BCSep 16, 2025

John Horgan Campus opens in Langford

The new Royal Roads University (RRU), John Horgan Campus is open, offering innovative post-secondary options for a growing number of students living in the Westshore. “Education opens the door to opportunity,” said Premier David Eby. “This new campus provides a doorway to future prosperity for people, for their families and for their community. It is a great tribute to John’s memory that this campus carries his name, as education opened a world of possibilities for him.” The campus aims to support the growing number of people of all ages choosing to call Langford home through a uniqu
man-facing-extradition-after-family-of-migrants-froze-to-death-at-canada-us-border
CanadaSep 16, 2025

Man facing extradition after family of migrants froze to death at Canada-US border

Another man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a migrant family on the Canada-U.S. border near Emerson, Man., in 2022. The federal justice department says Fenil Patel was arrested Sept. 5 on an extradition request from the United States. He is facing a hearing this week in Ontario Superior Court. Police in India announced in 2023 they were looking for Patel on human trafficking and other charges after a couple and their two children froze to death while trying to walk across the border in a frigid nighttime blizzard. Two men in the United States — Harshkumar Patel and Steve S
liberals-will-table-the-federal-budget-on-nov-4-champagne-says-by-craig-lord
CanadaSep 16, 2025

Francois-Philippe Champagne: Federal budget will be tabled on Nov. 4

The federal Liberal govt. will table the budget on Nov. 4. The update was shared by Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. This is going to be the first fiscal update to be shared by the new Carney govt. Usually the federal budget is tabled in the spring but the Liberals delayed this year's update until the fall. The finance minister shared an image with PM Mark Carney and then shared the news on his X account and wrote: Canada’s new government will table Budget 2025 on November 4th. A budget to meet this moment. A budget to build the strongest economy of the G7. A budget to build
vehicles-and-dirt-bikes-impounded-during-targeted-enforcement-blitz
BCSep 16, 2025

Vehicles and dirt bikes impounded during targeted enforcement blitz in Nanaimo

Aided from the air by an RCMP helicopter and with multiple officers on the ground, the Nanaimo RCMP impounded 4 dirt bikes and 3 vehicles for a wide range of driving offences. The campaign ran from 10 AM to 9 PM on Sunday September 14, 2025, and focused on key areas throughout the city. “Over the past several months, numerous complaints were received from the public over the blatant disregard for the rules of the road by a small group of individuals. From street racing to stunting to riding on sidewalks, these people were not only putting themselves at risk but the motoring public also. The
fatal-motor-vehicle-collision
BCSep 16, 2025

Driver killed in crash in Langley

On September 15, 2025, at approximately 6:20 p.m., Langley RCMP responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision located near 256 Street and 48 Avenue Langley. The collision involved two sedans and despite life-saving efforts, one of the drivers succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The circumstances leading to this tragic collision remain under investigation, but impairment has been ruled out. “We have now seen five fatal collisions in Langley in just the past six weeks. Please slow down, stay focused and give yourself time to react,” said Sergeant Zynal Sharoom of the Langley RCMP.

Related News