RESEDA : New Trial Planned in Death of Child
A Van Nuys Superior Court judge Tuesday refused to dismiss charges against a Reseda baby-sitter accused of killing a 9-month-old child in her care, opening the way for a new trial.
Judge Michael Farrell also allowed Debra Suzanne Cummings’ attorney, Joe Ingber, to withdraw from the case. Ingber said he is withdrawing from the case because Cummings has not paid him since October, 1990.
A deputy public defender will be appointed to represent Cummings. That appointment and a new trial date are scheduled to be decided on Aug. 12.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Fisch has also filed a motion that Farrell be dismissed from presiding over the new trial. Farrell is expected to rule on that motion also on Aug. 12.
Cummings, a former PTA president, is accused of killing 9-month-old Kevin Young while he was in her care. Cummings said the child fell and hit his head against a coffee table on June 15, 1990, but a coroner’s report concluded that the injuries that caused his death the following day could only have resulted from a blow or a tremendous fall.
A jury deadlocked 7 to 5 for acquittal last month, resulting in a mistrial.
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