Doctor: Girl said mother tortured her
Doctor: Girl said mother tortured her
June 26, 2004
Glenn May
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
The 7-year-old girl reeked of bleach when she came into the hospital, and doctors testified Friday they could not tell whether the burns covering half her body were caused by the bleach, frostbite, flames or a combination of all three.
Haley Liberman told doctors that her mother had hit her with a puppy choke chain, forced her to roll naked in the snow, then made her eat cat food, Children's Hospital Dr. Janet Squires testified yesterday at a preliminary hearing for Haley's mother, Debra Liberman, 50.
"Her mother said, 'What else do I have to kill you with?' and she poured bleach all over her," Squires testified that the child told her.
Allegheny County District Justice Anna Marie Scharding ordered Liberman, of Carrick, to face trial on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangering, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child.
Debra Liberman sobbed quietly and dabbed her eyes with tissues as Squires, the only witness to testify yesterday, told Scharding about Haley's condition upon entering the hospital Feb. 10.
Squires said the child recalled that Liberman erupted in anger when Haley doubted her mother, who claimed to be sick.
"When Haley said, 'Mom, you're not sick,' that's what made her mad," Squires said.
Liberman forced Haley to roll outside in snow both in her pajamas and naked, poured liquid soap in her mouth and forced her to eat the cat food, Squires said the girl told her.
"She said, 'What else do I have that would go good with cat food?" and poured salt in the girl's mouth," Squires testified.
Haley finally was ordered to the basement, where Liberman lit a fire in an old stove and forced her daughter to touch the flames. Police found the girl locked in a closet, naked and wet, after neighbors heard the girl's screams.
Haley now is doing well and finished a successful year in school, said her father, Daniel Liberman, 55, of Virginia, who now has custody of the girl.
"She'll be OK all in good time," said Daniel Liberman, who is divorced from Debra Liberman.
Defense lawyer Todd Hollis had only limited questions for Squires on cross-examination.
He asked whether doctors found any evidence of liquid soap or cat food on Haley when she was examined. Squires replied they did not.
After the hearing, Hollis declined to comment on his strategy for Liberman's trial but said she has been under psychiatric care.
"My position at this time is that my client was suffering under some form of mental health issues," Hollis said.
Haley did not testify. Deputy District Attorney Laura Ditka showed Scharding photos of the burns doctors found on Haley's back, bottom, face and ears.
Haley told doctors all her injuries had occurred in the 24 hours before she was taken to the hospital. Squires said she asked Haley whether her mother had hurt her before and the girl said she had, "but not like this."
Liberman remains in the Allegheny County Jail. She faces arraignment Sept. 1.
Glenn May can be reached at gmay@tribweb.com or 412-391-8650.