Shaking Killed Toddler, Doctor Says at Hearing for Baby-Sitter

A medical expert testified Friday that an 18-month-old Van Nuys girl died from violent shaking administered while the toddler was in the care of a baby-sitter who was described in court as a skilled and compassionate mother.

Nova M. Thompson, 34, of Van Nuys was charged with murder in the death of Jasmine Lynn Sanders, whom Thompson cared for almost daily in the year before her death. Prosecutors allege that Thompson, who has two daughters, beat and scalded the Sanders child before shaking her so violently that she lapsed into a coma.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing in Van Nuys Municipal Court, the child never regained consciousness after she was rushed to Valley Presbyterian Hospital on June 8. She was put on life-support systems, which were disconnected two days later.

Dr. Eva Hauser, deputy Los Angeles County medical examiner, said the shaking was the prime cause of death and occurred “two to three hours before she was hospitalized.”

4-Year-Old Testifies

Carlaina Johnson, the defendant’s 4-year-old daughter, testified earlier that she saw her mother place the little girl’s foot in hot water, drop her into the bathtub and shake her. But she testified that she thought that her mother’s actions were “an accident.”

The victim’s father, William Manciano, a 25-year-old rock musician who had custody of the child, said he regularly took Thompson’s advice on nutrition and other child-care matters.

“I trusted her and I never felt she would hurt a kid,” Manciano said, adding that he “didn’t know much about child raising at first, but I learned.”

Although his daughter came home from the baby-sitter with bruises several times in the months before her death, Manciano said he accepted Thompson’s explanation that they were caused by rough play with older children whom Thompson also cared for.

Manciano vigorously rebuffed suggestions from Deputy Public Defender Andrea Kelsey that some of the bruises might have been administered by Manciano’s roommates.

“No way--she was in perfect condition” when he left her with Thompson on June 7 for an overnight stay, he said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Leslie M. Kenyon said she expects to conclude testimony Monday, when Judge Michael S. Luros is to determine if Thompson should be held for trial in Superior Court.

Thompson has been in custody in lieu of $400,000 bail since the girl’s death.