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Mother accused of hurting baby says mold to blame
Posted: 03.09.2009 at 10:45 AM
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Updated 5:00 PM
SYRACUSE (AP) -- A jury is being seated in the trial of a Syracuse woman who claims her daughter was the victim of toxic mold exposure and not child abuse.
Brandi Gallishaw is accused of trying to smother her 7-week-old daughter and was convicted in 2001 of assault and child endangering charges. Her lawyers say the bronchial tube bleeding the baby suffered resulted from her clothing being exposed to toxic mold when laundered in the basement of her grandmother's home.
The now 25-year-old mother served her 30-day jail sentence, but a state Supreme Court justice overturned the conviction earlier this year after the defense provided evidence to support Gallishaw's claim.
Gallishaw says she is eager to have the case tried again to clear her name. Opening arguments are expected Tuesday.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)