Skeptical justices hear case of girl in coma

Lawyer: No one fighting for girl’s life
Strickland’s lawyers say the state has pushed for removal of Haleigh’s life support, but no one has argued that the girl should live.

“There should always be someone who will argue for life,” Egan said.

Virginia Peel, a lawyer for DSS, which has legal custody of the girl, said Haleigh’s doctors have agreed she will not come out of her vegetative state.

“This is not about the right to life,” Peel said. “This is about the circumstance under which this person is allowed to die.”

Both of Haleigh’s doctors agree she should be removed from the ventilator, but they are split over whether her feeding tube should be disconnected.

They have said that with her feeding tube alone, Haleigh could live as long as two months.

Without any life support assistance, she would die much sooner, the doctors said.

Egan said Strickland should be allowed to have another doctor examine the girl, but Peel said that isn’t necessary.

“When you have consistent medical opinions, why do you have to find a doctor who might — who might — challenge that,” she said.

Self-inflicted injuries?
According to court documents filed by Strickland’s lawyer, Haleigh had been hospitalized during the past three years for self-inflicted injuries. The girl’s alleged tendency to hurt herself is a cornerstone of Strickland’s defense.

Dave Roback / AP Jason Strickland, right, and his attorney, Richard Rubin, in Westfield District Court in Westfield, Mass., on Friday.

But Alicia Weiss, a baby sitter for Haleigh, testified at a hearing in Strickland’s criminal case that she saw Holli Strickland kick the girl down the stairs repeatedly and hit her with a baseball bat. She said she also saw Jason Strickland hit the girl twice with an open hand and once with a plastic stick.

Although he has not been accused of dealing any particular blows to the child, court documents accuse Strickland of watching as his wife abused Haleigh.

His lawyer has insisted his client isn’t motivated by the chance he could be charged with murder if the girl dies.

“We should be coming down on the side of life as opposed to death,” Egan said.

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Fort Hood suspect warned of threats in ranks Cops: Man kills mom, girlfriend, child, self Letterman suspect wants charges dropped AP: Man admits killing abortion doctor NYT: Fort Hood suspect tracked before shooting Supreme Court won't stop sniper execution Investigators: Fort Hood suspect acted alone Recession’s good news: Burglaries fall High court looks at life in prison for juveniles Inquiry in Ohio bodies case widens worldwide Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: