Opening statements began Friday morning in the trial of a North Fort Myers man accused of killing and sexually abusing a 2-year-old girl. A jury has been selected, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.
FOLLOW UPDATES BELOW
9:30 a.m. – The State and Defense deliver opening statements.
10:09 a.m. – The court calls its first witness, a Lee County Sheriff’s Office emergency telecommunications operator.
10:21 a.m. – The court plays the 911 call.
10:53 a.m . – The court calls its second witness, a Lee County EMS paramedic.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a home on West Mariana Avenue in April 2020 for a medical emergency. When they arrived, they found Nicholas Stephen Canfield, 30, trying to revive Jaliyah Ramos, who he said was unresponsive in a bathtub.
Deputies reported that Jaliyah had visible injuries, including bruising, swelling and other signs of trauma. Investigators said two other children in the home also showed signs of abuse. Canfield, who was dating the child’s mother at the time, is accused of causing Jaliyah’s death through blunt force trauma to the head.
He faces charges including first-degree murder, sexual battery and three counts of child abuse.
On Monday, jury selection got underway, where attorneys and Judge Bruce Kyle questioned potential jurors about their availability, knowledge of the case and ability to consider the death penalty.
The trial was previously delayed in January due to a mistrial caused by Canfield’s attorney experiencing a medical issue.
The trial is expected to continue through April 11.
UPDATES FROM THE COURTROOM
9:24 a.m. Mother is allowed to be in the courtroom but can’t be too close. Biological dad is present as well.
9:44 a.m. State Attorney’s Office begins opening statement.
10:09 a.m. The first witness takes the stand. Holli Harber, Lee County Sheriff’s Office 911 operator.
10:15 a.m.
Harber described how dispatch works, then said the call came in as a medical call.
10:24 p.m. Audio is played from the 911 call. Harber described how she gave the recessitation instructions to Canfield after the child was removed from a tub.
10:30 a.m. The second witness takes the stand. Earl Kulpea, EMS Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic.
10:43 a.m. Kulpea describes finding the patient lying face up on the bedroom floor, adjacent to the bathroom.
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