Dad, Defense Team: Woman's Confession Was Coerced In Toddler's Death
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (CBS) -- The defense team will argue the confession was coerced, in asking for a new trial for a woman convicted of killing a 16-month-old boy at a Lincolnshire day care center.
As WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports, the defense for Melissa Calusinski, 25, argues she killed little Benjamin Kingan just to end a police interrogation.
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That statement is echoed by Caluisnki's father, Paul, who spoke with her over the phone.
"And she says, 'Daddy! Daddy! I told them what they wanted me to tell them! I told them what they wanted me to tell them! I couldn't take it anymore! I wanted out of that room!" Paul Calusinski said.
Prosecutors said Melissa Calusinki threw the 22-pound boy to the ground on Jan. 14, 2009, after having "issues" with the children in the room at the Minee Subee day care center.
She gave police two videotaped statements.
But at trial, defense attorney Paul DeLuca told jurors she never harmed the boy she liked and cared for at the day center.
She faces a possible life sentence as she awaits a hearing on her new trial request later next month at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
