Jeromie and Jennifer Clark's trial for son's death delayed as they fire lawyer

A Calgary father accused of causing the death of his child has fired his lawyer, delaying the case.

Jeromie Clark and his wife Jennifer face charges offailing to provide the necessitiesof life and criminal negligence causing death after their 14-month-old, John Clark, died in 2013.

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At the time of the couple's arrest, police saidthe familywho claim to be Seventh-day Adventists followed a strict diet based on an extreme interpretation of the religion.

A date for their trial was supposed to be set Friday, but Jeromie Clark was given two weeks to find a new lawyer as his current counselcited "retainer issues"as the reason for getting off the record.

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Police began investigating after John Clark 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.

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

Police said it appearedthe parents took steps to concealtheir son'scondition from other family members.