Jan 31, 2008 6:19 am US/Eastern
Prosecutors: Shopping Trip A Tip In Nixzmary Case
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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Authorities say Nixzmary Brown, who died on Jan. 11, 2006, was bound with tape, tethered to a chair and forced to use a cat litter box.
AP
Prosecutors say it's evidence that 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown was abused even before she was killed by a blow to the head: A security camera video shows she wasn't included in a family shopping trip two days before her death.
Jurors saw the video Wednesday at Nixzmary's stepfather's murder trial in Brooklyn. Outside court, Assistant District Attorney Ama Dwimoh said the video and pictures of the girl indicate the family "could not take her out" without her bruises attracting attention.
Defense lawyer Jeffrey Schwartz said Nixzmary may simply have stayed home with a baby sitter during the shopping trip on Jan. 9, 2006.
The stepfather, 29-year-old Cesar Rodriguez, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys say the girl was killed by her mother, who also faces murder charges.
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