Jury Is Told Joel Steinberg 'Acted Cold and Uncaring'

Jury Is Told Joel Steinberg 'Acted Cold and Uncaring'

By RONALD SULLIVAN

LEAD: Joel B. Steinberg, on trial in the murder of Lisa Steinberg, seemed remarkably remote and unconcerned when told that the child he had raised was near death, prosecution witnesses testified yesterday.

Joel B. Steinberg, on trial in the murder of Lisa Steinberg, seemed remarkably remote and unconcerned when told that the child he had raised was near death, prosecution witnesses testified yesterday.

Two paramedics and a nurse described to the jury in State Supreme Court in Manhattan Mr. Steinberg's reactions when Lisa was brought to the emergency room at St. Vincent's Hospital on Nov. 2, 1987.

Nancy Dodenhoff, an emergency room nurse at St. Vincent's, said Lisa ''was probably brain-dead'' when she arrived at the hospital.

She was asked if Mr. Steinberg said anything to her.

''He asked me how she was,'' she said, but his tone of voice ''was very flat.''

She said she told him Lisa ''had severe brain damage and that she probably was brain-dead.''

Mr. Steinberg, she said, replied, '' 'Have you found anything else wrong with her?' '' ''Did the defendant cry?'' the prosecutor, John McCusker asked. ''No,'' she said.

''Did he show any physical reaction?'' ''No.'' 'Very Cool, Even Unconcerned'

The paramedics, John Filangeri and Brian Gearity, described Mr. Steinberg as ''very cool, very calm, even unconcerned'' as they tried vainly to save Lisa's life.

''Did you ever see a parent act in that manner?'' asked John McCusker, a prosecutor.

''In my experience, no.'' Mr. Filangeri said. ''I just couldn't believe anyone could act that cold and uncaring.''

With the jury excused, Mr. Steinberg's lawyer, Ira D. London, attacked the prosecution's line of questioning.

''What Joel Steinberg's reaction is to his stricken child, to my thinking, has no relevance to the crimes charged,'' Mr. London said. But Acting Justice Harold J. Rothwax ruled that Mr. Steinberg's reactions ''appear to me to be relevant.'' He did not explain further. Head Bruise, Enlarged Pupil

The paramedics also described Lisa's injuries.

''We observed that the pupil on her right eye was enlarged,'' Mr. Filangeri said. ''There was a bruise, deep purplish, black and blue, on the right side of her head.''

Enlarged and uneven pupils can be indicators of brain damage. Lisa Steinberg was pronounced dead of a head injury three days later.

Mr. Filangeri's testimony was the first evidence offered that the 6-year-old child had been hit. The prosecution contends she died from a blow she received on Nov. 1, 1987, from Mr. Steinberg, the 47-year-old lawyer who raised her and is now charged with murdering her.

Mr. Steinberg contends that Lisa died from a reaction to vegetables she had eaten and that he and his companion, Hedda Nussbaum, had spent the night trying to revive her, possibly causing her bruises.

Murder charges against Ms. Nussbaum were dropped Wednesday. Faked Show of Concern

In her testimony, Ms. Dodenhoff said she told doctors to notify the Bureau of Child Welfare of Lisa's injuries. ''I said it very loudly because I wanted Mr. Steinberg to overhear.''

''What did you see then?'' Mr. McCusker asked.

She said Mr. Steinberg then made what she thought was a transparently fake show of concern.

''I saw Mr. Steinberg go over to the head of the stretcher where she was laying.'' ''What did he do?'' ''He stood there for 30 seconds and then he patted her head and kissed her and left the emergency room very quickly,'' she said.

''What was he doing during those 30 seconds did you see?''

''I saw him looking around to see if anyone was watching him.''