The prosecution and defense gave their closing arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park in a child abuse and felony murder trial on June 9.
Faneshia Scott, 38, is charged with seven counts of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of first-degree felony murder while the victim was especially vulnerable due to age. The charges stem from her alleged involvement in the death and assault of her 16-month-old daughter, Rhythm Fields, and assault of her two and four-year-old children on the 5400 block of C Street, SE, on March 21, 2017.
During their closing arguments the prosecution called Scott out for her treatment of Rhythm saying, “Parents have a very special responsibility…kids expect parents to be their number one advocates.” Instead the person who should have protected Rhythm, ended her life, prosecutors argued.
The prosecution put together a months long timeline showing Scott’s alleged neglect of and abuse toward her children, based on eyewitnesses who say they saw Fields beat her children as well as an expert evaluation of Rhythm’s injuries including pictues shown to the jury.
They emphasized the extensive damage to her body including 17 bruises on her chest, multiple examples of internal bleeding, swelling of the brain, and 23 rib fractures – eight of which were new.
The prosecution connected Scott’s pattern of abuse to the night of March 20, 2017 when Scott allegedly shook Rhythm in an attempt to stop her crying, before ignoring Rhythm for hours who appeared unwell at the time according to witnesses.
Scott’s defense attorney, Steven Kiersh, emphasized that conviction requires evidence “beyond reasonable doubt,” and insisted the prosecution failed to meet these requirements.
Kiersh asserted that attempted CPR could have caused the bruises and the fractured ribs seen on Rhythm. He also attempted to minimize the prosecution’s argument that Scott’s administration of Robitussin to Rhythm is an example of her abuse, reminding the jurors of the statement from an expert witness that the drug “did not kill Rhythm.” However, drowiness and dizziness are potential side effects.
Kiersh said the cause of Rhythm’s death was brain swelling. He insisted that the prosecution had no concrete evidence that Scott caused the swelling and asked the jury to consider whether this created grounds for reasonable doubt.
Kiersh pleaded with the jury saying, “The law that you have to follow is not an emotional law.” While he acknowledged that Rhythm’s death was a tragedy and that some of Scott’s actions were regrettable, he insisted that the jury put aside emotion in determining Scott’s guilt.
In responding to Kiersh’s earlier statement that Robitussin Scott gave to Rhythm caused no injury and was below a therapeutic level at time of death, the prosecution pointed to the possibility that the drug could have accumulated in her body. They emphasized that the drug is “not for children under 12,” suggesting that no amount could be considered safe.
The rib fractures and fingerprints found on Rythm’s torso were noted as consistent with the defendant squeezing and shaking the victim, which she allegedly admitted March 20, 2017, the day prior to Rythm’s death. According to the prosecution, these injuries were sustained about 12-to-18 hours prior to Rhythm died.
Prosecutors highlighted the medical examiner’s testimony, in which they stated the cause of death was multiple blunt force traumas, and the manner of death a homicide.
The prosecution reminded the jury that Scott held sole custody of and thus, complete responsibility for Rhythm. The evidence that she often left Rhythm confined and drugged along with her alleged lies that Rhythm was all right pointed to Scott’s guilt.
Parties are slated to reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.
