Former Calgary pastor accused in son's death to stand trial in 2019

A former associate pastor accused in his infant son's death won't stand trial for more than a year.

Three-month-old Cyrus Nel died in a Calgary hospital in August 2015, a day after paramedics responded to a 911 call and found him in medical distress at the family's home.

His father, Daniel Nel, was arrested this past May after a lengthy investigation.

He was charged with second-degree murder, but the charge has been downgraded to manslaughter.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled to begin on Monday, but Nel, who is 32, waived the hearing.

Lawyers on both sides have agreed to start a 2-week trial on March 4, 2019.

Investigators who deemed the baby's death a homicide said there was no plausible explanation for his fatal injuries.

Nel wasan associate pastor at the RockyviewAlliance Church in Pineridgein northeast Calgary.

He was put on administrative leave in the month before he was charged.

"As a church community, we continue to pray for all who are involved," the Rockyview Alliance Church said in a statement at the time.

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