A 34-year-old father and 27-year-old mother were slapped with four charges linked to child abuse in Sherbrooke Tuesday morning.
The man and woman, who is pregnant, face charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, assault causing bodily harm, forcible confinement and failing to provide the basic necessities of a child. Police claim the two parents abused at least one of their three children, ages four, five and six.
The two were arrested by Sherbrooke police Monday after they were alerted to the situation by witnesses. Their children have been taken away and placed into foster care.
"If you could see the pictures, you'd see the five-year-old boy was malnourished," said Const. Rene Dubreuil.
The father was escorted by police to the courthouse 24 hours after his arrest. The man, who can not be indentified to protect the childrens' anonymity, kept his head down as angry relatives awaited his turn to appear. His wife arrived shortly after, also attempting to hide from the angry community.
The couple is due back in court later this week. The father may face more charges at that time, said the defence.
The prosecution said it is opposing bail against both parents. Police and prosecution are giving very few details about the nature of the abuse, other than to say their investigation began last week with child protective services visited the Sherbrooke home.
Sadly, that child is not alone in Sherbrooke. Statistically, the region has the second-highest rate of child abuse in the province, and the sixth nationwide.
Declining economics in the Eastern Townships play a role in the rising number of child abuse cases, said Alain Trudel, director of the local youth protection office.
"Whenever you see layoffs in a region, it adds pressure on parents, and the most vulnerable ones can't look after themselves," he said.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
