Late report may postpone trial

Adoptive parents charged in death of Russian boy, 5

BERNIE WEISENFELD

Courier-Post

The trial of a Franklin woman charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of her adopted Russian child may be postponed because of the late delivery of a child abuse expert's report.

At a hearing Friday, Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez denied a defense motion to suppress the report of Cindy Christian, a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, on injuries to 5-year-old Jacob Lindorff. The boy's adoptive mother, Heather Lindorff, 37, is scheduled for trial Oct. 7.

Defense attorney Steven Patrick complained he had received Christian's report only Thursday.

"I'm very unhappy with the fact that it took so long,' said Mendez, noting the case has had several postponements of hearing and trial dates.

Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Mary Pyffer said Christian is a nationally known child abuse expert from whom her office had sought a report since March. "We hounded her constantly,' Pyffer said.

Mendez said "to ensure fundamental fairness' he would allow Patrick more time to analyze Christian's report. "Which means the trial may have to be postponed,' he added. Lawyers are to meet with Mendez again Sept. 23.

Patrick also charged that Christian raises a different theory of the case than he has prepared to defend.

Pyffer said the state's position hasn't changed. "The position of the state is that this little boy, 5 years old, died under the care of Mrs. Lindorff,' she said. "There is nothing new in the state's case. It's a case of of blunt head trauma, untreated pneumonia, numerous bruising injuries, second-degree burns on the child's feet.'

Pyffer added, "there was absolutely no medical treatment during the six weeks that little boy was in our country.'

Patrick countered that Pyffer was making a case for lesser charges of fourth-degree child abuse and second-degree child endangerment. "It does not go to the manslaughter charge,' he said.

Lindorff's husband, James Lindorff, 53, is also awaiting trial on child abuse charges.

Patrick has contended Jacob's fatal injuries occurred in Russia before his adoption. He was one of five Russian children the Lindorffs adopted. The others now live with Heather Lindorff's mother.

Reach Bernie Weisenfeld at (856) 251-3345 or bweisenfeld@courierpost online.com