Power trial to begin in January
Published on August 24th, 2005
The Middlesex District Attorney's Office has announced a starting date for the trial of a local woman charged with murder in connection with the death of a Stoneham infant at her home.
A spokesperson for Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley announced this week that the trial of Reading's Ann Power, 56, charged with murder and the operation of an unlicensed day care facility at her Reading home, will begin on January 13, 2006 at Cambridge Superior Court. The spokesperson stated that the trial, originally scheduled to get underway this fall, was pushed back to January to allow both sides more time to prepare.
Both sides are due back in court for a status report on October 20, and if necessary the date could be pushed back again into next spring.
For those unfamiliar with the details of the case, here is a brief recap of the events leading up to Power's arrest:
At approximately 12:39 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2003, Reading police
responded to a 911 call at 16 Francis Drive in Reading, where Power allegedly ran an unlicensed day care operation at her home. Upon arrival, police found an infant, MacKenzie Rose Corrigan, three months old, of Stoneham, unconscious and unresponsive.
The infant was transported by ambulance to Winchester Hospital, and was transferred to Children's Hospital in Boston shortly thereafter. On Thursday, June 5, at approximately 7:10 p.m., Corrigan was pronounced dead by physicians at Children's Hospital.
The Office of the State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and additional testing on Corrigan, and determined the cause of death to be shaken baby syndrome, and ruled the death a homicide on July 31, 2003.
On August 1, 2003, Reading police obtained an arrest warrant for Power and arrested her at her home without incident at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Authorities stated at the time that they believe Power physically assaulted Corrigan while the infant was in her care, inflicting fatal injuries common in shaken baby syndrome, including brain damage and retinal bleeding.
Power pled not guilty to the charges, and was released on bail.
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