A bail hearing has been delayed for a Sault Ste. Marie man charged with manslaughter after his 13-year-old daughter died of a fentanyl overdose while in his care — to the dismay of the child’s mother.
On Thursday, the Ontario Court of Justice heard that Ken Walker, legal counsel for Paul Firlotte, intends to bring an application forward to remove himself as Firlotte’s lawyer. No reasons were given by Walker for bringing the application forward.
As first reported by SooToday, the child who died of an overdose while in Firlotte's care was Jocelynn Firlotte-Lowe.
“The fact that we’re going to be waiting months now, and he doesn’t have a lawyer — yeah, it’s very emotional,” said Sarah Lowe, Jocelynn's mother, outside of the Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse.
“It’s a roller-coaster. Every day is a roller-coaster since Jocelynn’s been gone.”
On Sept. 4, 2023, Sault Ste. Marie Police were sent to a multi-unit residence building in the 300 block of Albert Street West for a welfare check on a child.
Officers arrived at around 8:30 p.m. and were let into the residence, where they found Jocelynn unresponsive.
Police administered naloxone and attempted CPR, however when paramedics arrived they confirmed the 13-year-old girl had died.
On March 5, detectives with Sault Ste. Marie Police Service located and arrested Jocelynn’s father, 42-year-old Paul Firlotte, who was charged with manslaughter and held in custody pending a bail hearing.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Firlotte is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
Thursday marked the second time that his bail hearing has been shifted to a later date.
“I was hoping at least today that his lawyer would have asked for bail — and that he would have been denied,” Lowe said.
“I do believe that Mr. Firlotte made a decision that weekend — and it was a bad decision — to keep our daughter there.
“When you make bad decisions, there’s repercussions. I just believe he deserves repercussions for his actions that weekend.”
Lowe was surrounded by her family and friends at the Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse on Thursday, including her mother and her boyfriend.
All who showed up in support of Firlotte-Lowe were wearing matching purple T-shirts bearing the words 'Justice for Jocey.'
Firlotte-Lowe’s best friend was also in attendance, for what was supposed to be a bail hearing for the man accused of playing a direct role in his daughter's death.
“They’ve been there from the minute Jocelynn passed,” Lowe said.
“We’ve always been a very close family, and had a small group of friends that were more like family.
“She wasn’t just taken from me — she was taken from them as well," she said.
Firlotte's next court appearance is scheduled for April 28.