Trial for parents of toddler who died from meningitis abruptly adjourned over lawyer dispute

The trial of parents charged in their young son's death will resume today in Lethbridge after it wasabruptly adjourned Thursday when thedefence objected to questions Crown counselwas asking one of its witnesses.

A doctor was testifying about Ezekiel Stephan's condition after he was rushed to Cardston Hospital in southern Alberta in March 2012.

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Court was told the toddler, who was almost 19 months old, was pale and his skin had no life or texture when he arrived at the hospital.

When the doctor suggested the child's condition indicated severe dehydration, defence lawyer Shawn Buckley suggested the jury be excused from the courtroom.

Buckley's concerns and discussions between himself, the Crown and the judge can't be reported.

David and Collet Stephan have pleaded not guilty to failing to provide the necessariesof life for Ezekiel, who died of bacterial meningitis.

The Crown is arguing the Stephans didn't do enough to ensure their son had proper access to medical care.

The trial has been told the boy had been sick for several days and his parents thought he had croup.

They treated him with natural remedies and homemade smoothies containing hot pepper, ginger root, horseradish and onion.