Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba – A 27-year-old man from Manitoba has been sentenced to three years in prison for failing to provide the necessities of life for a 3-year-old boy named Abel Leveque-Flett. The judge referred to the injuries suffered by the toddler as “profoundly disturbing,” including seven broken bones, more than 70 burns, bruises, and scrapes. Abel was rushed to a nursing station in Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba, on August 23, 2018, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the Crown attorney, Abel had epilepsy and developmental and physical disabilities, making him unable to talk or walk without a walker. Despite this, he would have still been able to cry, indicating an unimaginable amount of pain. The autopsy revealed seven broken bones, along with 75 other injuries, but the cause of death could not be determined.
The court heard that Abel was under the care of the defendant and his partner for 73 days, during which time he was never taken to a hospital or nursing station despite his injuries. The couple had entered into a family agreement to care for Abel, as his biological parents were unable to do so. The defendant’s partner has also been convicted on the same charge, and her sentencing is scheduled for May 15.
The defense lawyer mentioned the defendant’s significant history of abuse and intergenerational trauma in his family, connected to his grandparents being forced to attend residential schools. The defendant has a criminal record that includes several assaults and was still on probation at the time of Abel’s death.
During sentencing, the judge urged the defendant to reflect on the pain he caused the family and community affected by Abel’s death. The Department of Families in Manitoba has ordered a review of Abel’s death, and the final report, received in May 2022, remains confidential and protected by the Child and Family Services Act.
The sentencing of the defendant brings closure to a tragic case that has deeply affected the Little Grand Rapids community in Manitoba, raising important questions about the protection of vulnerable children and the responsibility of caregivers.