Failure to Protect

[Marina]

http://www.northjersey.com/news/newyork ... 20594.html

Mother guilty in case that changed child welfare

Saturday, October 18, 2008 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — The mother of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown was convicted of manslaughter Friday in a case that hastened reforms in New York's child welfare agency and made the little girl's name synonymous with child abuse.

Brooklyn jurors deliberated three days before convicting Nixzaliz Santiago in the January 2006 death of the tiny, malnourished girl, who was severely punished after she was caught stealing yogurt.

Santiago — like her husband — was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter. Cesar Rodriguez, who delivered the fatal blow, was convicted in March and is serving 29 years in prison.

The trial had raised questions of whether mothers should be held to a higher standard than fathers. Prosecutors argued that the mother had failed to protect her child in shocking fashion, and should be thoroughly punished.