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Supreme Court Orders Acquittal for B.C. Babysitter in 2011 Toddler Drowning

It closes the matter after an appellate court determined that Crown lawyers failed to disclose evidence that could have altered her plea.

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The Supreme Court of Canada says an acquittal is the appropriate outcome for a British Columbia woman whose conviction in the drowning death of a toddler was set aside two years ago.
Tammy Marion Bouvette is seen in a documentary by CBC's The Fifth Estate.

Overview

  • Tammy Bouvette was originally charged with second-degree murder in the 2011 bathtub drowning of a 19-month-old girl in Cranbrook, British Columbia.
  • She pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of criminal negligence causing death but later contended she was not informed of critical evidence before entering her plea.
  • In April 2023 the B.C. Court of Appeal stayed proceedings, ruling that the Crown’s nondisclosure of key materials resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
  • Bouvette appealed to the Supreme Court seeking a definitive acquittal rather than a continued stay that left her legal status unresolved.
  • The Supreme Court’s decision to acquit underscores the fundamental importance of full evidence disclosure to uphold fair trial rights.