As he sat in a police interview room under suspicion of killing his 5-month-old daughter, Jay D. Decker insisted to police that he had never abused his child and that parenting wasn't that hard.
"It's a joyous experience," Decker told Lawrence Police detectives Jack Cross and M.T. Brown.
Jurors saw a video recording of that scene Wednesday during the second day of Decker's first-degree murder trial in Douglas County District Court. Decker is charged with killing Risha J. Lafferty on Oct. 14, 2005, at Edgewood Homes, 1600 Haskell Ave.
Prosecutors allege Risha suffered repeated injuries at Decker's hands while the baby's mother, Brandi Mae Hendrickson, worked during the day.
Coroner Erik Mitchell is expected to testify first this morning about Risha's injuries, which included a fractured skull, signs of being shaken and 35 bruises or other external injuries, some of which appeared to be several days old.
But testimony has been inconsistent so far about how she got those injuries, and at several points Wednesday the picture of what exactly happened to Risha grew murkier. For example:
¢ Decker told police in his videotaped interview that Risha would have bruises on her body from several incidents that happened in the days leading up to her death - all of which he claimed were accidents, such as her falling off the couch and him grabbing her by the neck to catch her. But Jimmy Parker, one of Decker's neighbors, testified that he had held Risha on his lap the night before her death and that he didn't see any bruises on her, though she was wearing only a diaper.
More about the trial
- Mother testifies in murder trial (08-02-06)
- 6News video: Testimony begins in Decker trial (08-01-06)
- Photos at issue in child's death (07-15-06)
- Judge delays trial in infant's death (05-13-06)
- Mom's plea hearing set in endangerment case (03-11-06)
- Coroner: 5-month-old suffered repeated abuse (02-18-06)
¢ Decker told detectives that on the morning of Risha's death, she fell off a mattress - a height police measured at 6 inches - and that some of her bruises would be from that. But one of the first patrol officers who arrived at Decker's apartment after a 911 call testified that Decker said Risha wasn't injured from that incident.
¢ Decker told detectives that, a few days before Risha's death, he tripped and fell into the wall while holding her. He said the back of her head struck the wall and left a dent in the drywall.
Lawrence Police crime-scene detective Jim Martin held up the cutout piece of drywall for jurors to examine. It contained a round dent about the size of a baby's head.
But Risha's mother, Hendrickson, testified earlier in the trial that she believed the dent had been caused by Decker's shoulder or elbow going through the drywall while she was at work. Hendrickson has testified that she believes Decker's story that the repeated injuries to Risha were accidental.
Decker told police during the videotaped interview that after the back of Risha's head struck the drywall she also had bruises on her forehead from her face striking his chest as the two fell together.
Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case today, and the defense plans to call witnesses, including a medical expert.
Comments
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prioress (anonymous) says…
What a horror. Children deserve better, from their caregivers, and from the systems intended to protect them.
spammer89 (anonymous) says…
I do hope they do not give the other kid back to her.
reginafliangie (anonymous) says…
This is what is wrong with the hole system. If one of your children dies in your home with obvious abuse injuries, regardless of who inflicted them. No other child should be put back into that home. I don't care how many visits or checking on that home has. It's a disaster waiting to happen.
Ceallach (anonymous) says…
Hester: What is that all about? I read it through, trying to find the thread that would make it all clear, couldn't find it. Is that something you wrote for another situation or a quote from someone else? Please clarify.
sweetpeagj (anonymous) says…
What is a joke about SRS in Lawrence is that the front desk receptionist lost custody of her youngest for emotional abuse and still kept her job. Tell me how hard these people really care.
Ceallach (anonymous) says…
Sweetpea: Social work has suffered the same fate as so many other professions that were once considered humanitarian endeavors. It's just a job, put in your time, collect your pay. I'm okay, you're okay.
conservative (anonymous) says…
Ceallach,
Hester cut and pasted the lyrics to a "Tears for Fears" song from the 80's. The name of the song is "Suffer the Children" I'm guessing it's being quoted mostly for the name of the song.
katybleu (anonymous) says…
For one thing why would anyone put a baby on the couch if they knew she has fallen off of it once before? DUH!! How in the heck was it that he fell carrying her unless he was drunk? And if my baby had fallen and it his head hard enough to dent in a wall I'd be taking that child to the emergency room ASAP. Now these parents are just ignorant and don't deserve to have children. People who do not realize that a baby is fragile and should be protected at all cost from even a simple hazard of putting the baby on a bed or couch. We need our teens to be education in childcare before they leave high school. It should be manditory. Perhaps education would prevent these sort of things form happening.
PointofView (anonymous) says…
Is there counseling for repeated 'accidents' or training for Decker to learn how to move around an apt. without injuring himself or others? Goodness, I have never heard such ridiculous statements to the police. How they can take these reports and remain poised is commendable.