Burbank mother pleads not guilty in infant’s death

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The 21-year-old Burbank mother whose 5-week-old daughter died of internal injuries last month pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one felony count of child abuse.

Prosecutors allege that Elizabeth Carter allowed the infant to “be inflicted with unjustifiable physical pain and mental suffering,� according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint.

But her attorney, Paul Geller, has said his client had no knowledge of any alleged physical abuse. In an interview last month, he called Carter “very loving, very caring, very soft-spoken,� and said his client “certainly attended to the baby’s health when she realized there was a problem.�

The father, 19-year-old Matthew Wojcik, was arrested in October on suspicion of felony child abuse -- the day after the infant, Violet Wojcik, was brought to the hospital with broken bones.

Burbank police at the time said the baby was “shaken very hard, which caused internal injuries.�

Violet was taken off life support Nov. 9.

Wojcik was subsequently charged with murder and felony child abuse causing death and remains in custody in lieu of $1-million bail. Carter was arrested Nov. 21 and released after posting $130,000 bail.

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-- Alene Tchekmedyian, Times Community News