POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY — The second week of the trial of Alison Dorsey, 39, of Anita is underway. The trial began on Monday, May 1 when the jury was chosen.
Dorsey is charged with murder in the first degree, and child endangerment, resulting in death, after an infant, Luka Hodges, she was caring for in her Massena day care died there on Oct. 7, 2019.
Authorities have said Luka died Oct. 8 at an Omaha, Neb., hospital from internal brain bleeding, a condition commonly described as shaken baby syndrome. Dorsey has claimed the injuries had occurred outside of her care.
This is the second time for the trial — her first trial ended in a deadlocked jury, and a mistrial was declared.
The trial itself began last Tuesday in Pottawattamie County — it was moved because court officials felt there had been too much publicity. Assistant Attorney General Monty Platz is the prosecuting attorney while David Brooks is Dorsey’s defense attorney.
Among the witnesses was a pediatric radiologist, called in on the afternoon of Oct. 7 when Luka was transferred to Children’s hospital in Omaha from Cass Health in Atlantic.
She said she thought Luka’s brain injury was not the type called by a short distance fall.
Another witness, a pathologist, testified for three hours, noting it took unusually long for CPR to be administered. He used a method using iron staining on the brain, and said he felt the brain injuries occurred before Oct. 7
Email Laura Bacon at lbacon.ant@gmail.com
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