Dead girl’s injuries consistent with child abuse, doctor says

A toddler died two months after a social worker placed her in a “safe” home, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Three-year-old Jennifer Pinder died from injuries associated with child abuse on February 25, 2007 while in the care of Troy Sweeting and Rosetta Cruz-Sweeting, her aunt, prosecutors say.

Social worker Monique McKenzie told the jury that the Sweetings “appeared to be upright citizens of good character” from her investigations.

McKenzie authorized the child’s release from the Nazareth Center into the family’s care during the week of December 13, 2006, the court heard.

McKenzie said she did not follow up on the child’s welfare after she was placed with the Sweeting family.

Pediatrician Dr. Percival McNeil first came into contact with Pinder on February 21, 2007 in the Accident and Emergency section of Princess Margaret Hospital.

McNeil said the child had multiple injuries about the body, which in his opinion were not accidental. He said her injuries were consistent with child abuse.

He said, “These injuries were not accidental, so they were inflicted.”

McNeil said the medical team felt that Pinder had a “slim chance of survival”.

The prognosis was correct and Pinder died at 1:44 a.m. on February 25 after suffering from four cardiac arrests.

Doctors were able to restore Pinder’s heartbeat after the first three arrests but their resuscitation attempts failed after her heart stopped a fourth time.

Cruz-Sweeting is no longer charged with Pinder’s murder.

The case against her husband continues before Justice Roy Jones.

Anthony Delaney and Charles Newbold are the prosecutors. Raymond Rolle appears for Sweeting.