Post by Anja on Jun 9, 2006 15:29:02 GMT -5
Woman's trial opens in 9-year-old's death -- Arlington: Prosecutors say
emaciated boy was beaten, tied up, starved
Davontae Williams' life was as awful as his death.
The 9-year-old Arlington boy was found dead nearly 2 years ago at the
Arlington apartment he shared with his mother, her girlfriend and his 2
sisters.
On Wednesday, prosecutors began building their case against one of the
women, who they said beat, tied up, neglected and eventually starved the
boy.
Lisa Coleman, the 30-year-old girlfriend, is on trial for capital murder
and injury to a child.
She pleaded not guilty after the indictment was read before state District
Judge Everett Young.
Assistant District Attorney Mitch Poe said that Davontae, who was born
premature to a 14-year-old mother, lived in a home where others ate while
he was deprived of the most basic needs.
"This case is about the short, sad life of Davontae Williams," Mr. Poe
said during opening statements. When paramedics arrived at the home on
July 26, 2004, there was no chance of reviving the boy, Mr. Poe said.
Davontae weighed 35 pounds, and his body was stiff, emaciated and
underdeveloped.
"He had been dead for hours," Mr. Poe said.
The boy had extensive wounds, including cuts and bruises in various stages
of healing.
Mr. Poe warned the jury that the case would be long, graphic and
complicated. He apologized for the crime scene photos the panel would have
to see.
"You're going to see massive injuries. His ear had been practically
knocked off. His ear was partially hanging," Mr. Poe said. "This was not a
natural death. This was a death with trauma."
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Ms. Coleman.
The boy's mother, Marcella Williams, 25, also faces capital murder charges
in the death of her son.
Michael Heiskell, an attorney for Ms. Coleman, told the jury that the boy
was a challenge for 2 adults with poor parenting skills.
Ms. Coleman, he said, was not the boy's primary caregiver. She was in and
out of the home.
"They would have you believe Lisa Coleman intended to cause the death of
Davontae Williams," Mr. Heiskell said.
It was Ms. Coleman who talked to a 911 operator when she found the boy was
not breathing, he said.
"This is not the mind of a murderer," Mr. Heiskell said.
"This is going to be an emotional case. The facts of the case should not
be weighed down by emotion," he said. "You will hear a story far different
from the one they told you ... a story that's replete with sadness and
sorrow."
Mr. Heiskell also noted Child Protective Services' role in Davontae's
life.
CPS conducted several investigations throughout the boy's life.
A report by The Dallas Morning News found that CPS made 6 calls on his
home and told the court that his grandmother "has a history with CPS, and
previous CPS workers can attest to her emotional and mental instability."
But the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said that the
family had successfully dodged caseworkers and that caseworkers could not
find them.
Shortly after Davontae died, for example, CPS said that Ms. Coleman's
removal from the Williams home had been a precondition of returning the
children to their mother's custody after they had been removed in 1999.
Davontae had been removed from her home after caseworkers found that the
boy had been beaten with an extension cord.
Their final interview with Davontae was at Webb Elementary School in
Arlington in October 2002.
The next month, Ms. Williams withdrew her 7-year-old son from the school
and told officials she was transferring him to Fort Worth.
However, Fort Worth school officials said they had no record of the boy
being enrolled.
Ms. Coleman's trial is expected to last about 2 weeks.
(source: Dallas Morning News)
emaciated boy was beaten, tied up, starved
Davontae Williams' life was as awful as his death.
The 9-year-old Arlington boy was found dead nearly 2 years ago at the
Arlington apartment he shared with his mother, her girlfriend and his 2
sisters.
On Wednesday, prosecutors began building their case against one of the
women, who they said beat, tied up, neglected and eventually starved the
boy.
Lisa Coleman, the 30-year-old girlfriend, is on trial for capital murder
and injury to a child.
She pleaded not guilty after the indictment was read before state District
Judge Everett Young.
Assistant District Attorney Mitch Poe said that Davontae, who was born
premature to a 14-year-old mother, lived in a home where others ate while
he was deprived of the most basic needs.
"This case is about the short, sad life of Davontae Williams," Mr. Poe
said during opening statements. When paramedics arrived at the home on
July 26, 2004, there was no chance of reviving the boy, Mr. Poe said.
Davontae weighed 35 pounds, and his body was stiff, emaciated and
underdeveloped.
"He had been dead for hours," Mr. Poe said.
The boy had extensive wounds, including cuts and bruises in various stages
of healing.
Mr. Poe warned the jury that the case would be long, graphic and
complicated. He apologized for the crime scene photos the panel would have
to see.
"You're going to see massive injuries. His ear had been practically
knocked off. His ear was partially hanging," Mr. Poe said. "This was not a
natural death. This was a death with trauma."
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Ms. Coleman.
The boy's mother, Marcella Williams, 25, also faces capital murder charges
in the death of her son.
Michael Heiskell, an attorney for Ms. Coleman, told the jury that the boy
was a challenge for 2 adults with poor parenting skills.
Ms. Coleman, he said, was not the boy's primary caregiver. She was in and
out of the home.
"They would have you believe Lisa Coleman intended to cause the death of
Davontae Williams," Mr. Heiskell said.
It was Ms. Coleman who talked to a 911 operator when she found the boy was
not breathing, he said.
"This is not the mind of a murderer," Mr. Heiskell said.
"This is going to be an emotional case. The facts of the case should not
be weighed down by emotion," he said. "You will hear a story far different
from the one they told you ... a story that's replete with sadness and
sorrow."
Mr. Heiskell also noted Child Protective Services' role in Davontae's
life.
CPS conducted several investigations throughout the boy's life.
A report by The Dallas Morning News found that CPS made 6 calls on his
home and told the court that his grandmother "has a history with CPS, and
previous CPS workers can attest to her emotional and mental instability."
But the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said that the
family had successfully dodged caseworkers and that caseworkers could not
find them.
Shortly after Davontae died, for example, CPS said that Ms. Coleman's
removal from the Williams home had been a precondition of returning the
children to their mother's custody after they had been removed in 1999.
Davontae had been removed from her home after caseworkers found that the
boy had been beaten with an extension cord.
Their final interview with Davontae was at Webb Elementary School in
Arlington in October 2002.
The next month, Ms. Williams withdrew her 7-year-old son from the school
and told officials she was transferring him to Fort Worth.
However, Fort Worth school officials said they had no record of the boy
being enrolled.
Ms. Coleman's trial is expected to last about 2 weeks.
(source: Dallas Morning News)