Testimony Scheduled To Begin In Case Of Shaken Baby

Testimony scheduled to begin in case of shaken baby By Tracy M. Neal Staff Writer // [email protected] Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Email this story | Printer-friendly version

BENTONVILLE — Opening arguments will begin today in the case of a Bentonville woman accused of shaking her 2-month-old daughter. Darra Barritt, 36, is charged with battery in the first degree, a class B felony. If convicted, she will face a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years. During jury selection, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Clay Fowlkes asked prospective jurors if they believed it was possible to injure a child by shaking him or her. Fowlkes also asked if panel members believed a parent could be capable of causing an injury to his or her child. "Does anyone believe that child abuse does not happen and it’s not a reality?" Fowlkes asked the panel. Both Fowlkes and Brian Burke, the attorney representing Barritt, questioned jurors about their contact with law enforcement. Burke also asked prospective jurors whether they believe doctors are capable of making mistakes. Testimony in the case will begin this morning after opening arguments. Several doctors are among the witnesses. The trial is expected to last the remainder of the week. On March 18, 2005, Bentonville police officers went to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rogers to investigate a possible case of shaken-baby syndrome. A 2-month-old girl had symptoms of being shaken. She was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. According to an affidavit for a search warrant in the case, on March 18, 2005, Barritt took her youngest daughter — K Barritt — to the Garrett-Goss Clinic for a checkup after Barritt and her mother noticed the baby was twitching. A doctor at the clinic suggested the child be taken to St. Mary’s. The doctor at Garrett-Goss claimed the baby displayed examples of being a shaken baby, the affidavit states.

Another doctor told police that Darra Barritt said she had shaken the baby but not too hard. Barritt was arrested March 19, 2005, and was released from custody after posting $50,000 bond.