Manslaughter Verdict Given in Baby’s Death

An Orange County Superior Court judge found Gregory Trent Wall guilty of involuntary manslaughter Tuesday for his part in the death of a 13-month-old baby.

Declaring that the 31-year-old defendant had shown remorse, Judge Leonard H. McBride said he did not believe that Wall showed a total disregard for human life and that, therefore, Wall was not guilty of second degree murder, the original charge against him. Wall had pleaded not guilty in the case and was tried before the judge.

As McBride announced his decision, Wall sat crying, holding his left hand over his eyes.

Wall, who had been free on bail, was not taken into custody. He is to return March 31 for sentencing. He could face up to 4 years in prison.

Wall was arrested in September, 1987, after the death of Shantana Speake, who was the daughter of Annette Chrisinger, his girlfriend at the time.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Melvin L. Jensen, Chrisinger had left her baby in Wall’s care at her home in Brea when she went to work Sept. 9.

Jensen said Wall’s version of what happened that day was that he put Shantana in her crib in an upstairs bedroom sometime after 5 p.m., then began vacuuming downstairs; he heard the baby scream, and ran and found her at the bottom of the stairs; he then put the baby back in her crib and telephoned Chrisinger’s brother, then Chrisinger, to tell them what had happened but saying that the baby appeared to be fine.

When Chrisinger came home, Jensen said, she questioned Wall, who told her that the baby had vomited after falling.

Chrisinger went to check the baby and noticed that the she was having difficulty breathing, Jensen said. She immediately took the child to a hospital, but the child was declared brain dead soon after her arrival. She was removed from life support equipment the next day and died.

Doctors and nurses at the hospital had noticed bruises on the baby’s head and notified police of possible child abuse, and Wall was arrested, Jensen said.

Slapping Admitted

During questioning by police, Wall admitted that he had slapped Shantana after the fall because she seemed hysterical.

During the weeklong trial, Jensen argued that Wall lied when he said the child had fallen down the stairs. Jensen pointed out that the steps were covered with padding and carpeting and therefore Shantana could not have sustained the injuries that she had in a fall.

“I think he beat the child up at the crib,” Jensen said. “She didn’t fall down the stairs. . . . It appears the child didn’t like him, was jealous of him. She had been crying and he had a tough time handling it.”

McBride noted in his decision that he was not convinced that Shantana had fallen down the stairs.

Outside the Santa Ana courtroom, Wall’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Tim B. Severin, said he was satisfied with the judge’s decision to find Wall guilty of a lesser charge. He said he believes Wall’s version of the story, that the girl fell down the stairs, was slapped and went into a coma.

Testimony From Wife

Severin said that Wall, who came to Orange County from the Sacramento area, has no previous criminal record. He also said that Wall’s wife, from whom he has been separated since 1986, testified that he never abused their own two children.

Chrisinger, who was not in the courtroom Tuesday, said in a phone interview that she felt justice was not done, that Wall should have been convicted of second degree murder.

“All I know is that my little girl lies in the ground,” Chrisinger said. “I think they should do more about this. It’s not necessary to hit babies. There is always some easier way to take care of the situation--putting them in a playpen or just stepping away to calm down.”