Hastings jury heard part of stepfather's confession to shaking 17-month-old. The boy's mother told of his final days when he stopped eating, moving.
A Dakota County prosecutor told jurors the 19-year-old mother lost her child to shaken-baby syndrome at the hands of stepfather Tylar Hokanson.
He's been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder, including for allegedly failing to stop the slow death by telling nobody that he hurt 17-month-old Nicholas Miller. Hokanson, 24, also faces three counts of second-degree murder in the death last year in Pierce County, Wis. The trial will continue this week.
Melissa Hokanson, of Greenvale Township in southern Dakota County, where the injuries allegedly occurred, did not look at her husband while testifying.
She told of Nicholas' bruises and broken clavicles after she met Tylar Hokanson in summer 2008. She also told of his punishment of the boy and about hearing Nicholas' "terrified scream" on June 19, 2009.
Authorities say his death four days later could have been prevented with medical care.
An autopsy found bleeding on the brain. The state alleges shaking caused Nicholas' brain to hit his skull, and bleeding then pressured his brain.
His spine was severed, as were blood and lymph vessels. His lung cavity filled with fluid, squishing his lungs. He had bruises and cuts including to his mouth and tongue.
He also had five ribs broken in prior weeks and fractures of his clavicles in recent months.
Three of the photos were taken two days before the toddler died at his stepgrandmother's house. In the photos, he lay on a couch from which he did not move, according to his mother's testimony.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/107806364.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvckD_V_jEyhD:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs
He's been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder, including for allegedly failing to stop the slow death by telling nobody that he hurt 17-month-old Nicholas Miller. Hokanson, 24, also faces three counts of second-degree murder in the death last year in Pierce County, Wis. The trial will continue this week.
Melissa Hokanson, of Greenvale Township in southern Dakota County, where the injuries allegedly occurred, did not look at her husband while testifying.
She told of Nicholas' bruises and broken clavicles after she met Tylar Hokanson in summer 2008. She also told of his punishment of the boy and about hearing Nicholas' "terrified scream" on June 19, 2009.
Authorities say his death four days later could have been prevented with medical care.
An autopsy found bleeding on the brain. The state alleges shaking caused Nicholas' brain to hit his skull, and bleeding then pressured his brain.
His spine was severed, as were blood and lymph vessels. His lung cavity filled with fluid, squishing his lungs. He had bruises and cuts including to his mouth and tongue.
He also had five ribs broken in prior weeks and fractures of his clavicles in recent months.
Three of the photos were taken two days before the toddler died at his stepgrandmother's house. In the photos, he lay on a couch from which he did not move, according to his mother's testimony.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/107806364.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvckD_V_jEyhD:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs
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