Kingston infant death case moves closer to trial as preliminary inquiry concludes
June 9, 2026
A preliminary inquiry into the case of a woman charged with second-degree murder and child abandonment has concluded in Kingston, moving the matter one step closer to a possible trial in Superior Court.
Justice Janet Robb presided at the Ontario Court of Justice at 279 Wellington Street, where the inquiry concluded on Friday, June 5, 2026. A preliminary inquiry, also known as a preliminary hearing, is not a trial and does not determine whether an accused person is guilty or innocent. Instead, the judge must decide whether the Crown has presented enough evidence to require the accused to stand trial.
Because the victims are under 18, their identities are protected by publication bans. Therefore, the accused mother's name is also protected.
She faces four charges: one count of second-degree murder; one count of failing, as a parent, to provide the necessities of life for a child under the age of 16; and two counts of abandoning or exposing a child under the age of 10 in circumstances likely to endanger the child's life or health.
Friday's proceedings marked the conclusion of submissions from the Crown and the defence. Both parties addressed the court regarding the remaining legal issues before a decision is made on whether the accused will be committed to stand trial and on what charges.
Section 539 of the Criminal Code prohibits the publication of evidence and legal arguments presented during a preliminary inquiry. This is intended to protect the fairness of future proceedings by preventing potential jurors from being exposed to evidence that has not yet been tested at trial.
Over the course of the inquiry, the court heard evidence from several witnesses and received a number of exhibits. Expert evidence was heard from Dr. Alfredo Eugene Walker, a forensic pathologist with the Eastern Ontario Regional Forensic Pathology Unit, who was qualified as an expert in forensic pathology.
The charges stem from an incident on Friday, May 31, 2024, when Kingston Police and a worker with Family and Children's Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington attended an apartment building on Russell Street.
Police alleged that two children were found alone inside the apartment. One child, described by police as an infant, was deceased. A second child, described as a toddler, was transported for medical treatment and survived.
Police later located the children's mother at a Napanee address, where she was arrested the same day.
The woman, who was 32 years old at the time, was initially charged with criminal negligence causing death, failing to provide the necessities of life, and two counts of abandoning a child under the age of 10.
At the time, Kingston Police said the cause of the infant's death remained under investigation with the assistance of the Coroner and the Eastern Ontario Regional Forensic Pathology Unit.
Following further investigation by the Kingston Police Major Crime Unit, the original charge of criminal negligence causing death was upgraded to second-degree murder, and the accused was re-arrested on that charge in September 2024.
The case has experienced lengthy delays, including issues related to mental health assessments and changes in defence counsel. The accused is currently represented by Toronto lawyer Mary Cremer.
At the conclusion of Friday's hearing, the discussion turned to scheduling and the next procedural steps. Counsel advised the court that they are awaiting a judicial pre-trial date in Superior Court, where the parties and a judge will discuss scheduling and other matters necessary to move the case toward trial.
During the scheduling discussion, the court acknowledged that the matter has been before the justice system for a significant period and emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary delay.
The case is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, Jun. 11, 2026, for a brief appearance dealing with scheduling and related procedural matters.
If the accused is ultimately committed to stand trial, the matter will proceed through the Superior Court process before a trial date is set. Kingstonist will continue to follow the case as it moves through the courts.