Lice and an emotional father interrupted the second day of trial of a grandmother accused of killing her 2-year-old granddaughter at Tysons Corner Center in November.
James Ogdoc took the stand and recounted seeing his child in the hospital receiving treatment.
"They couldn't resuscitate her," Ogdoc said. "They eventually gave up because the brain damage was too much."
The judge called for a recess after Ogdoc broke down on the stand and could not continue testifying.
A female witness, who said she was standing below the elevated parking garage walkway from which Carmela Dela Rosa allegedly dropped her 2-year-old granddaughter, Angelyn Ogdoc, testified she thought the child was a bird in the air until she realized it was in fact a toddler. The witness said the child was still breathing after falling 50 feet.
Sam Campiano, first officer on the scene, also testified in court Tuesday. The officer said under oath that he asked Dela Rosa if she was responsible for the child's fall. According to Campiano, Dela Rosa said, "I did it. I threw the baby off."
Tuesday afternoon, jurors were to see video of the suspect's statement to the police after the incident.
Tuesday's testimony got off to a delayed start when the judge ordered the courtroom vacated after it was discovered the defendant was carrying head lice. Court was recessed while she was sent back to jail for a change of clothes, and the courtroom where the trial started Tuesday morning will be closed for 48 hours for delousing treatment. The trial continued in another room.
On Monday during opening arguments, prosecutors said that Dela Rosa intentionally killed the child out of anger towards James Ogdoc, her son-in-law. According to prosecutors, Dela Rosa did not forgive Ogdoc for getting her daughter pregnant out of wedlock.
Dela Rosa's attorneys said she was insane at the time of the incident.
