Jennifer and Jeromie Clark to stand trial in Calgary toddler's starving death

A Calgary judge has overturned a publication ban that prevented the media from reporting the identities of a couple recently committed to stand trial in connection with the death of their toddler.

Two weeks ago, a provincial court judge found there was enough evidence for Jennifer and Jeromie Clark to go to trial on charges of failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing death for the 2013 death of their 14-month-old, John Clark.

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At the time of the couple's arrest, police said the family — who claim to be Seventh-day Adventist — followed a strict diet based on an extreme interpretation of the religion.

A publication ban granted at the beginning of the preliminary inquiry prevented the media from reporting the names of both the accused and the victim.

Major media outlets in Calgary fought the ban and on Tuesday, Court of Queen's Bench Judge Jo'Anne Strekaf overturned it.

Toddler's cause of death twofold

The Clarks were arrested on Dec. 12, 2014, and charged with criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life.

Police began investigating after their son was brought to the hospital by his parents on Nov. 28, 2013. He was treated but died the following day.

The medical examiner found the cause of death to be a staph infection complicated by malnutrition.

Police say couple concealed son's condition

John was born at home and had never been to a doctor. 

Police said it appeared the parents took steps to conceal their son's condition from other family members.

The evidence heard at the three-day preliminary inquiry is still protected by a publication ban.

The matter is back in court on Jan. 8, 2016, to set a date for  trial.