Murder charge stayed against woman accused in baby’s death
Posted Jan 31, 2020 6:29 pm.
EDMONTON – A second-degree murder charge against a woman accused in the death of her 11-day-old daughter has been stayed.
Police were called to an Edmonton home in March 2017 to investigate a report of a baby not breathing.
Almost two months later, Michelle Rice was charged after autopsy and toxicology tests confirmed her baby, Eliana Rice, died from a lethal dose of methamphetamine.
READ MORE: Fourth person charged in downtown homicide
A trial for Rice, who is 34, was to begin next week.
But Alberta Justice says the charge was stayed last October because the Crown determined there wasn’t a reasonable likelihood of conviction.
In Canada, stayed charges can be reactivated by the Crown within one year.
