Jeffery Dice II took the stand Wednesday in Howard Superior Court 4 on his own behalf and denied dipping a 19-month-old girl in boiling water May 5, 2011.
Dice, 22, is on trial for two Class B felony charges of battery on a child less than 14 years of age causing serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury.
Dice continually said, “I did not,” when asked by his attorney, David Rosselot, if he immersed the child’s legs, hands and face in a pot of boiling water.
The state represented by Prosecutor Mark McCann contends that Dice intentionally immersed the girl in a pot of boiling water that day.
During his testimony, Dice said that he was getting ready to cook ramen noodles for his stepdaughter, when he accidentally knocked the pan of boiling water off the stove. He further said he didn’t realize the child was in the room until he heard her scream. When ask where the girl was, Dice said he thought she was in her room playing. He further stated that when he looked down she was sitting on the floor screaming.
He also claimed he was burned by the scalding water, but he didn’t have any burn marks. After the incident, he said he noticed her left foot and left hand was bright red. He then called his aunt who is a nurse for advice. She told him to take her to the hospital, which he did.
Dr. Roberta Hibbard at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis testified earlier in the day that after examining the child she thought the injuries were consistent with intentional immersion burns and that the injuries were not suffered as a result of accidentally being splashed as Dice claimed.
With photos of the girl’s injuries on display for jurors, Hibbard explained that the injuries from her vast experience were not consistent with a splash burn pointing out the distinctive patterns of the burns to jurors.
Detective Ernie Shirey of the Howard County Sheriff Department also testified that he did not believe Hibbard’s claim and thought it was an accident. Shirey said he initiated an investigation, but did not request a warrant or place Dice under arrest.
Going off the information from representatives of the Department of Child Services and Hibbard’s report, McCann elected to request and obtain a warrant for Dice’s arrest regardless of Shirey’s opinion.
In an unusual move, the second day of the trial started with a defense witness.
Judge George Hopkins allowed Rosselot to call the defense’s expert witness, Dr. Richard Kagan, prior to the state resting due to a scheduling conflict.
Kagan testified that after reviewing the photos and reports from police, family and physicians he concluded the burns to the feet and hands were consistent with immersion burns. He also testified he believed the burns did not occur from one instance.
In his cross examination, McCann pointed out to jurors that Kagan did not examine the child or interview anybody in the case in coming up with his conclusions. Kagan also said he was paid $6,200 for his review and testimony.
Closing arguments are expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. today.
Local News
Defendant takes the stand in abuse case
Jurors to decide on Jeffery Dice’s fate today.
- Local News
-
- Wind farm battle turns personal
- Computers seized in strip club raids
-
Power to the park
- Miami Co. commissioners: Employees waste time online
- Trial starts in case of injured baby
-
“We’re all in it together”
Peru Police Chief Jonie Kennedy recently joined another elite group after she was appointed Peru police chief in April.
Out of the nearly 450 municipal police departments in the state, she’s now just one of around seven female chiefs. -
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
Repeating recent history, the General Assembly turned away efforts to expand Sunday alcohol sales and allow gas stations and convenience stores to sell cold beer – the latter of which has prompted a lawsuit. -
Summer Place Car Show wheels in for its 11th year
It started with a broken down car on U.S. 31. Decades later, 500-plus cars roll in and rewind time for the 11th Annual Summer Place Car Show.
Jim Richardson founded the event as a way to raise money for his family’s foundation, A Home for Every Child. The foundation, which raises money to help children in need of adoption, is one that’s close to Richardson’s heart just as his love for the 1950s is close to his roots. -
New purpose for St. Joseph Center
For 42 years, Chris Cleveland has had a special relationship with his developmentally disabled brother, Bally. He created the Bally Foundation last year to connect people with special needs and their caregivers to services and resources within 75 miles of Indianapolis. Now Cleveland wants to create a new resource, a community for families caring for special needs members.
-
Question Time: Dinner for four
We received several dozen very interesting responses Friday when we asked our readers to answer the following question: “If you could have dinner with any three people living or otherwise who would it be and why?” As a result, a few us here at the Kokomo Tribune decided to give it a try as well.
- More Local News Headlines
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
