CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Liro Gonzales' murder trial started with a suprise Wednesday in Chesterfield when the Commonwealth's Attorney set aside one of the two murder counts against the babysitter.
At the beginning of the hearing the Commonwealth's Attorney presented 15 pieces of evidence for the court to review.
The evidence included two 911 called made in December 2018 when a seven-month-old infant in Gonzales' care showed signs of distress.
The infant died three days later.
Experts said internal bleeding and blunt force trauma to the head killed the child.
Gonzales is charged with felony child neglect and murder.
She plead not guilty to the charges and requested her fate be decided by a judge, not a jury.
During Wednesday's hearing, the infant's mother took the stand and testified that everything was fine with her child before she dropped off the baby for Gonzales to babysit.
Gonzales' lawyers said the babysitter did everything she could to save the baby. They stated the Commonwealth had no evidence that linked Gonzales to the child's death.
The Commonwealth argued it believed Gonzales was responsible due to the manner in which the child died, according to their medical expert.
The trial was scheduled to last three days. If convicted, Gonzales could face up to 40 years in prison.
