malnutrition trial ...for the selected few

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Jury finds parents guilty at baby malnutrition trial

 

 

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

Two parents accused of nearly starving to death their

infant daughter by putting her on their own strict

diet were found guilty Friday of assault, reckless

endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

The state Supreme Court jurors deliberated three days

before returning the guilty verdict on all the charges

against Joseph and Silva Swinton, both 32.

 

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said they face

up to 25 years in prison.

 

In his closing arguments Tuesday, Assistant District

Attorney Eric Rosenbaum said the couple treated their

daughter, Ice, like a " gerbil. " She was fed a diet of

ground nuts, fresh-squeezed juices, herbal tea, beans,

cod liver oil and flax seed oil and was not given

breast milk or formula.

 

The parents said their health improved after they

restricted their diets and hoped their child would

benefit from eating similar foods.

 

Lawyers for the Swintons also said the parents were

unaware they were harming the child and challenged

medical records that they say are inaccurate.

 

The baby was removed from her parents' home at age 16

months in November 2001. When she was discovered by

authorities, the baby weighed 10 pounds, exhibited a

distended stomach and appeared to be the size of a 2-

or 3-month-old child.

 

Doctors testified that Ice was at risk of heart

failure because of the poor nutrition and warned that

she baby may experience developmental problems.

 

" The jury's verdict gives voice to the terrible

suffering that this helpless baby was forced to

endure, " Brown said in a statement. " By ignoring for

15 months the mounting and visible signs of the

child's desperately needed medical care, the

defendants brought her to the brink of death. "

 

A lawyer for the Swintons, Ronna Gordon-Galchus, could

not be immediately reached for comment.

 

The baby is recovering in foster care, according to

the district attorney's office.

 

 

 

Originally published on April 4, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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