RYDER MORRISON - 1 yo (2011)/ Accused: Nanny-KelliAnne Jacobsen - Richland/ Bellingham WA

The lawyer for a nanny charged in the death of a Richland
toddler said Tuesday that his client will be prejudiced if forced to go
to trial this year because the victim's mother is pregnant.
Scott Johnson asked for a trial delay on behalf of client Kelli Anne Jacobsen,
citing a number of issues with the manslaughter case.
His expert in shaken baby syndrome won't be available to testify until November and
Dr. Daniel Selove, the forensic pathologist, is out of the country at
the end of the year.
Jacobsen, 27, was the nanny for Ryder Morrison, a 1-year-old
boy who died June 22. She is accused of causing a fatal head injury to
the boy while watching him at his Richland home.
Ryder's death came a day after his first birthday.
Jacobsen is charged in Benton County Superior Court with first-degree manslaughter.
The charges include aggravating circumstances that the victim was
particularly vulnerable and incapable of resistance, and that his death
had a destructive and foreseeable impact on others.
Johnson said he didn't want to raise the issue of Tawney Johnson's pregnancy in a
public court proceeding, but added that he couldn't get an agreement
from Prosecutor Andy Miller to postpone the trial past her due date later this year.
"Obviously that's a great concern to me
considering this case," Johnson said, referring to having the victim's
mother pregnant in front of a jury. He said if he didn't make the
argument to Judge Vic VanderSchoor, he would be committing malpractice.
"No attorney in the world would not ask to go past that point."
Jacobsen had been set for trial June 4, though Johnson told the court earlier
this year that the defense expert wasn't available for several months.
Miller said he didn't see the need to delay as long as Johnson wants,
especially if the defense doesn't yet know if the expert will testify
since the man has yet to submit a report on the case.
And as to Tawney Johnson's pregnancy, Miller said it's a very difficult issue for the state.
He told VanderSchoor he respects Scott Johnson's position and knows the
lawyer has the interest of his client at heart, but added that they're
dealing with a woman who lost her infant child and this pregnancy likely
brings up "bittersweet feelings."
Miller argued he didn't believe the issue justified continuing the trial date.
Johnson reiterated that there could be "irrevocable prejudice" against his
client because she is accused of killing a child, and also said he might
have to raise the issue of a third-party perpetrator at trial, which
would imply that someone else close to Ryder caused his death.
VanderSchoor said he respects Johnson's work as a defense lawyer and understands his
arguments, but was hesitant to push the trial out to the new year.
He tentatively set the trial for Aug. 13, acknowledging there isn't much chance of it actually happening then.

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/09/2515087/shaken-baby-case-delayed-in-benton.html#storylink=cpy

Former Nanny Accused of Killing 1-year-old is Back in Court

By Lida Alikhani. Published Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

The former nanny charged with manslaughter for the death of a 1-year-old she was looking after is back in court.

The prosecution released medical records of the child, Ryder Morrison, to the defense.

Kelli Jacobsen will be on trial for the 2nd time after being charged with manslaughter in the June 2011 death of Morrision.

Jacobsen's trial was scheduled to start in September, but a judge moved the trial to January.

A jury originally heard the case in May, but they could not reach a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial.

Jacobsen is expected back in court two weeks from today.