San Diego

A Superior Court jury began deliberations in the trial of a mother and son accused of abusing six children at their Mira Mesa foster care home.

Henri Jo Dyson, 43, and her son, 26-year-old Harold Alexander Dyson, are on trial on charges of inflicting corporal injuries on a child.

The seven-man, five-woman jury began deliberations Monday after hearing 2 1/2 days of closing arguments from attorneys on both sides.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Sally Penso said testimony from three of the alleged victims furnishes “overwhelming” evidence that the Dysons punished children placed in their care by social workers.

Arguing to the jury that the children had no motive to lie, Penso said enemas were frequently used to discipline children. She said one boy nearly died from a cold-water enema when his body temperature dropped and his blood became so diluted it led to seizures.

The defense attorney for Harold Dyson, Gary Edwards, concluded his argument by telling jurors that his client testified in a “consistent” fashion that strongly contrasted with the “incredible” stories of emotionally scarred children.

William Stearns, attorney for Henri Dyson, stressed to the jury that county employees regularly inspected the Dyson home during the time of the alleged beatings and abuse, but nothing out of the ordinary was ever noted.

In addition to four charges of beating a child, Henri Dyson faces two counts of committing lewd acts on a child, and one count each of child abuse and child endangerment. Harold Dyson is charged with three counts of inflicting corporal injury.