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Trial Delayed For Molino Man Accused In Young Daughter’s Death
July 15, 2008
Trial has been postponed for a Molino man accused of killing his infant daughter.
Christopher Paterson, 28, was scheduled to stand trial Monday for the death of his one year old daughter Ali Jean Paterson.
But Assistant Public Defender Fred Carmody requested that the trial be postponed so an expert witness could prepare for the trial. The continuance request was granted by Circuit Judge Michael Allen.
The trial is now set to begin with jury selection on July 28 according to court officials. The trial had previously been set to begin on May 12, but was postponed after the defense announced a new witness in the case.
The girl died on November 26, 2006, from burns she received two weeks earlier when she was left unattended in a hot bath, according to authorities. Paterson told deputies he placed the child in shower that just felt warm and went to another room to get a towel. He said that when he returned, Ali was screaming, and there was steam rising from the shower. He then called 911 after noticing red sores on the child.
Ali survived at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for two weeks before she died.
This was not Paterson’s first involvement with authorities over Ali. The Department of Children and Families investigated a broken leg she suffered in May 2006. Paterson and Brittany Knapp, Ali’s mother, took Ali to the hospital with a broken leg. They said her leg was broken when it became trapped in a slot in her crib. DCF did not find that the incident was abuse at that time.
Paterson was indicted by a grand jury on second degree manslaughter charges in February of 2007. He was arrested on May 1, 2007, near Gainesville. He has remained in jail since his arrest.
Comments
One Response to “Trial Delayed For Molino Man Accused In Young Daughter’s Death”
This is such a sad story. I have seen too many cases of children being abused and child protection services really need to take more action and investigate each case more closely. It takes something this disturbing before they act and what is the point when the child is already in heaven?
I have had contact with them on an issue and I was told that there was nothing they could do because the man I called about has a “history” of child abuse (molestation) but no charges so therefore they couldn’t do anything about why I had called. How sad.
I am not trying to belittle the system I am just trying to make a point that they really need to investigate further on calls and actually follow up for months to come unexpectantly.
Thanks!