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Alberta Crown stays 2nd-degree murder charge against mother in newborn’s death

Jan 31, 2020 | 1:12 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 2018 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.

A trial for Rice, who is 34, was to begin next week, but court documents show the murder charge was stayed last October.