Before Nathaniel McLellan’s mom returned to the witness box for a fifth day, there was a strong message from the judge to speed up the Strathroy daycare provider’s manslaughter trial.

Meggin Van Hoof’s defence lawyer Geoff Snow had told the judge Tuesday that Wednesday would be the last day, his fourth, questioning Rose-Anne Van De Wiele, the mother of the 15-month-old toddler who died of a blunt force trauma to the head on Oct. 31, 2015, after five days in hospital.

Recommended Videos

The case, in which Van Hoof, 46, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, has taken almost a decade to reach trial, following a lengthy police investigation, two lawsuits, a newspaper series, a podcast and divisions in a small town.

Nathaniel had been dropped off at Van Hoof’s home for the day until she c

See Full Page