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Doctors testify in homicide case

MONROE — A Green County jury heard doctors give conflicting opinions Thursday about whether the death of 2-month-old Christopher Shelton was the result of homicide or natural causes.

The doctors were among witnesses called during the trial for Casey Shelton, 32, Brodhead. He is charged with first-degree reckless homicide in connection with Christopher’s death Feb. 28, 2007.

Which doctor was more convincing is for the jury to decide.

Court records indicate Shelton called 911 at about 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2007, and told them he needed an ambulance at his residence in Decatur Township because his baby had stopped breathing. Shelton told emergency responders Christopher began to choke as he was feeding him.

Christopher was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital in Janesville.

Dr. John Plunkett, who has experience as a forensic pathologist and served as a medical examiner in Minnesota, testified for the defense.

Dr. Robert Corliss, the UW-Madison pathologist who performed Christopher’s autopsy, testified for the prosecution.

Plunkett concluded after examining autopsy pictures and reading reports from the hospital and the Green County Sheriff’s Office that Christopher had chronic bleeding in the brain. Christopher’s death, he said, was not necessarily instantaneous. He said choking could have increased the bleeding and led to the child’s death.

He said Christopher had no signs of traumatic brain injuries.

Plunkett agreed, however, that a rag stuffed into Christopher’s mouth could have caused him to choke.

Amy Uptegraw, Christopher’s mother, testified Wednesday that Shelton sometimes put rags into the child’s mouth when the baby was crying.

Corliss, who testified Thursday and Wednesday, said Christopher died because of a traumatic injury to the brain suffered soon before he died.

The time of death is important to both the defense and the prosecution.

Uptegraw left for work in Juda at about 11 a.m. the day Christopher died. Shelton called 911 at about 6:30 p.m.

Corliss said he saw bleeding on both sides of the brain, which would indicate the baby had been shaken.

Plunkett said emphatically that it was unlikely shaking could have caused Christopher’s death. He said violent shaking of the baby would have resulted in neck injuries that would have been seen during the autopsy.

Plunkett also disagreed with Corliss’ assessment of why Christopher had fractured ribs, which appeared to be healing by the time of his death, according to Corliss’ autopsy report.

As a twin born prematurely, Christopher was prone to bone fractures. Plunkett said a medical report published within the past two weeks determined that fractures could occur at the time of birth, with no visible signs to the parents or doctors.

The jury was in recess until Thursday afternoon while Shelton and his defense attorney, Michael Murphy, viewed a videotape of Uptegraw’s April 20, 2007, interview with Green County sheriff’s detectives. Judge James Beer ruled the defense deserved time to watch the tape before it is entered into evidence. On the four-hour tape, Uptegraw claims Shelton abused their children.

The prosecution was expected to wind up its case today, and the defense was expected to call witnesses. Jury deliberation could begin tonight.

Shelton also faces child abuse charges in connections to injuries sustained by Christopher’s twin brother, Charles. A three-day trial for those charges is scheduled to begin Feb. 4.