Barritt Trial
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Updated: April 17, 2007
Jurors found Darra Barritt guilty of first degree battery.
Attorneys on both sides made their closing arguments Tuesday morning. Investigators say last year Barritt told a doctor she shook her daughter while they played. The child had a seizure and spend five weeks in the hospital.
After the judge read the verdict, the sentencing phase of the trial immediately followed. Barritt`s ex-husband Steven, who now has custody of their two children, took the stand to answer questions for the prosecution. He said he has to perform stretching exercises on her everyday to prevent her from becoming disfigured. He said his daughter will be registered as blind, and cannot eat solid foods.
The defense called Darra Barritt to the stand. Barritt said she hasn`t seen her children in a year. She said she`s `completely and totally against harming children.`
Jurors recommended Barritt serve fifteen years in prison and pay a $15,000 fine.
