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D.C. Witness Staff
- November 23, 2020
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A defendant accused of fracturing his daughter’s skull is set for a trial readiness hearing in March of next year.
Cornell Holton, 26, is charged with first-degree felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children in the death of three-month-old Skylar Newman.
Holton called 911 on March 16, 2019, saying he found his baby unconscious in her crib. In the recording of the call, he can be heard crying and screaming. Three days later, Newman was pronounced brain dead as a result of the blunt force trauma and subsequent brain bleed.
During a previous hearing in August 2019, the prosecution said the medical examiner determined that the multitude of injuries found on Newman could not be accidental.
“This is going to be a forensic heavy baby-death case,” said defense attorney Jason Tulley during the Nov. 23 status hearing.
Tulley asked that the deadline for expert witness notices be moved up for both parties so that they have more time to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions. It was moved up to Feb. 1 for the prosecution and Feb. 18 for the defense.
“Our experts will be mostly medical in nature,” said the prosecution.
Judge Danya Dayson scheduled the trial readiness hearing for March 16, 2021. In the meantime, the Holton will remain held at DC Jail.
Although Holton accompanied his daughter to the hospital and notified the mother by calling from a blocked number, he fled shortly after and never returned. Holton was arrested in May of last year.
Sierra Robbins wrote this article.