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A Calgary mother was ordered Friday to stand trial in the death of her seven-year-old son nearly two years ago.

Provincial court Judge Paul Mason made the ruling after hearing the last of nearly two dozen witnesses called by the Crown during a five-day preliminary hearing.

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Tamara Lovett, 45, will face trial on charges of failing to provide the necessities of life and criminal negligence causing the death of Ryan Alexander Lovett. He was seven-years-old when he died in March 2013 after contracting a strep infection that kept him bedridden for 10 days.

Police allege his mother chose to treat the bacterial infection with homeopathic herbal remedies instead of taking him to a doctor and that decision likely killed the child.

Police say there is no record of the boy ever being taken to the doctor for annual checkups or any treatment.

But family members have said previously the allegations may be wrong. Grandfather Donn Lovett said the picture police painted of the single mother was not accurate. He said Lovett devoted her life to the child.

Photo by Facebook / Calgary Herald

An autopsy revealed the boy died as a result of a Group A Streptococcus infection.

Police say the woman’s friends were worried about the ailing child’s health and urged her to take him to the doctor.

Police have said the woman called for help from her suite in the 900 block of 17th Avenue S.W. early on March 2, 2013, fearing the young boy was suffering a seizure. The child was later pronounced dead in hospital.

dslade@calgaryherald.com

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