by Sarah Abfalter
Darnell Dorsey, a Sacramento man accused of inflicting deadly injuries upon his girlfriend’s 20-month-old baby in Davis last year, appeared again in court today for a case review in what has become very lengthy pre-trial preparations.
Dorsey appeared in court alongside Deputy Public Defender Joseph Gocke, who informed the court that the defense would still likely not be ready for trial, originally scheduled for January 28, 2016, and asked that the trial date be set for some time in March.
Judge Richardson was not pleased and would not initially agree with a continuance, but Gocke urged the court that the Public Defender’s office has tried to move this case forward as quickly as possible, sighting multiple autopsy delays, as well as the unavailability of their chosen medical expert, as the reason for the delay.
According to Mr. Gocke, multiple motions to compel had to be filed on the behalf of the Public Defender’s office in order to receive autopsy reports, which then led to delays in getting those reports analyzed by the medical expert chosen by the defense to testify at trial. Gocke informed the court that the soonest possible date the testifying medical expert would be available to review reports with defense counsel was February 29.
On the side of the People, Deputy District Attorney Michelle Serafin stated that, while she did not necessarily agree with the continuance, she conceded that there have been multiple delays for counsel on both sides and asked that if a motion for a continuance were to be filed, that it be filed this week.
According to testimony given at Dorsey’s preliminary hearing back in March, Dorsey was caring for his girlfriend’s 20-month-old son when the child suffered catastrophic injuries to his head and body. The UC Davis Medical Center pediatrician who cared for the toddler testified that the child’s injuries were most likely the result of child abuse. Forensic Pathologist Dr. Ikechi Ogan echoed that finding, stating that the toddler’s injuries were due to blunt force trauma.
Counsel for both sides are expected to appear in court again on December 17 to determine if a motion for continuance will be granted.
so in the last two years we have the death of the talamantes girl, the death of the samantha green boy, and this death. that’s three baby/ infant deaths – we are pouring resources into fixing the bar scene, but have done nothing to save these innocent children.