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Quebec man faces manslaughter charge in death of 5-month-old baby girl

ST-JEROME, Que. — A 24-year-old Quebec man faces charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death after a baby girl was found unconscious inside a home west of Montreal.

Police found the five-month-old child Feb. 3 in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, and she died two days later in hospital.

Police said the infant’s mother had left the girl in the care of a man she had recently met.

Steven Bernard appeared Monday at the courthouse in St-Jerome, Que. His lawyer, Andre Blanchette, entered a plea of not guilty.

The Crown opposed Bernard’s release, and the resident of Contrecoeur, Que., will remain detained until his next court appearance Feb. 19.

Quebec provincial police and the local police force arrested Bernard last Friday. The local police had been called to the home at around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 and discovered the child in cardiorespiratory arrest.

The Canadian Press