CANADA • Mercedes PEPPER, 19 months old / Accused: Erin Jackman ~ Medicine Hat AB

Mercedes Pepper, 19 mos, died of head injuries at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary


Daycare owner pleads not guilty in child's death
March 8, 2011

. . . . . .
Erin Jackman, 24, is charged with manslaughter
in connection with the death of a toddler in her care.

A Medicine Hat, Alta. day-home operator has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in connection to the death of a 19-month-old girl.

Erin Jackman, 24, has elected for a trial by judge and jury.

In July, Mercedes Pepper was rushed to Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, where she died of head injuries.

Investigators alleged she suffered the trauma at a provincially approved day home operated in Jackman's residence.

Four children were in Jackman's home at the time of the alleged incident: two were hers and two — Pepper and a five-year-old girl — were in her care, police said.

Jackman was initially charged with aggravated assault, but that was upgraded following an autopsy.

She will be back in court April 14 for a preliminary hearing.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2011/03/08/calgary-medicine-hat-day-home-manslaughter-plea.html

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April 14, 2011

A lengthy preliminary inquiry has been set for a woman accused of manslaughter. A total of six days have been chosen for a judge to hear evidence in the case against Erin Jackman.

Starting June 10, 2011, several witnesses are expected to take the stand, possibly including some medical experts to talk about the head trauma the toddler suffered prior to her death.
A judge will then decide if there is enough evidence to send the former day home worker to trial.

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Day home operator will stand trial
June 20, 2011


Erin Jackman arrives at court on Monday, June 20, 2011.

A judge has ruled that a Medicine Hat day home operator will stand trial in connection with the death of a toddler.

Erin Jackman, 24, is charged with manslaughter and failing to provide the necessities of life to a 19-month-old girl.

The child was flown to the Alberta Children's Hospital last July where the little girl died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Jackman pleaded not guilty in connection with the death back in March.

On Monday morning, a Medicine Hat judge ordered her to stand trial in the girl's death.

Erin Jackman appeared calm in court and didn't show any emotion.

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Jackman Case Pushed To October
August 18, 2011

The woman accused in the death of a 19 month old Medicine Hat girl may not go to trial after all.

Erin Jackman stood quietly in the prisoner's box, with her father and sisters in the gallery, as her lawyer told a judge he's working on an offer for resolution with the Crown Prosecutor's office.
If that agreement is reached by October 20th, Jackman, 25, could avoid a trial all together.
But if no agreement can be reached, a trial date is expected to be set in the next couple of months, which would be heard by a judge and jury.

Jackman was charged with Manslaughter and Failure to Provide the Necessities of Life in July 2010, when a 19 month old died with reported head trauma, after an incident police allege happened in the accused's home.
Jackman was a licensed day home operator at the time of the incident.

http://www.cjcyfm.com/news-and-info/local-news/jackman-case-pushed-to-october-2206/

Update: Jackman matter adjourned

The former day home operator facing manslaughter charges of a Medicine Hat toddler had a quick court appearance Thursday to set the matter over a month.

Erin Louise Jackman, 25, is charged with the July 2010 death of 18-month-old Mercedes Pepper who was in the woman’s care when she received a fatal head injury.

This is the second adjournment for Jackman since being committed to a jury trial following a June 2010 four day preliminary hearing.

Jackman’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 17.

http://www.medicinehatnews.com/front-page-news/jackman-in-court-today-10202011.html

Manslaughter Trial Set For October 2012
November 17, 2011

In Court of Queen's Bench Thursday, October 1st to the 19th was set aside to hear the case against Erin Jackman.

A three week trial will start late next year for a local woman accused of manslaughter. In Court of Queen's Bench Thursday, October 1st to the 19th, 2012, was set aside to hear the case against Erin Jackman.

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