Daycare Owner on Trial

***UPDATED TUESDAY 8:30 P.M.***The second day of trial for Shelley Richter moved from emotion to science. On Monday, Lane Schaefer’s parents testified.But Tuesday came down to the medicine. Dr. Nitin Patel, a University Hospital physician, told the jury Schaefer’s brain injuries reflected “non-accidental trauma,” and had most likely occurred the day prior. He treated then-seven month old Schaefer on August 19 and 20, 2010 and continues to treat the child today. He described the child now as nearly entirely blind and struggling to develop.Patel said he was told that night that Schaefer had fallen when Richter tripped over a toddler at her Taos home daycare center. The child’s injuries, he said, were inconsistent with that kind of fall because of the swelling and bleeding.Dr. Craig Downs, the attending physician that night in the pediatric intensive care unit, also told the jury that the injuries were consistent with “non-accidental trauma,” which used to be commonly and generally called “shaken baby syndrome.” Downs said the injuries associated with abuse can happen within seconds and are not always accompanied by bruising.Both doctors also admitted in cross-examination that there was some evidence in the myriad test results done on the child that Schaefer’s brain cavity could have sustained a previous injury. Judge Patrician Joyce told jurors to expect to have the case in their hands by Wednesday afternoon, following defense witnesses and closing arguments.ABC 17 News will again be in the courtroom and will bring you updates on air and on abc17news.com.***ORIGINAL STORY***The trial starts Monday for a Jefferson City woman accused of abusing a child at her home daycare.Shelley Richter is accused of child abuse and neglect for the 2010 incident in which investigators say she shook the child.She says she was carrying the child and tripped.If Richter is found guilty she faces up to 22 years in prison.