The mother of murdered four-year-old Dominick Calhoun took the stand Wednesday during a motion hearing.
Corrine Baker is charged with child abuse and second degree murder in connection with the death of her son Dominick, in April last year. Police say her boyfriend Brandon Hayes tortured the little boy for days. He too is charged with murder.
Right after Dominick died, Brandon Hayes was charged. It was more than a week before they charged Baker. Police accuse her of not doing enough to protect her baby.
Baker’s attorney Fred Meiers asked the judge Wednesday to throw out statements she made to police about her son's death just before she was charged.
“I felt intimidated,” said Baker on the stand.
She says the prosecuting attorney and a detective pulled her aside and questioned her in a locked room at the courthouse. She was there to see Brandon Hayes face a judge. She says they never read her her rights.
“At the time, I talked to her she was the mother of a deceased child and a victim of domestic violence,” said Marcie Mabry, who retired from the Genesee County Prosecutor’s office last year. “I wasn’t talking to her as a suspect.”
Defense Attorney Fred Meiers said any statements made during this questioning should be inadmissible. He said the rules of professional conduct call on prosecuting attorneys to make sure the accused are aware of their right to get an attorney.
“The Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office should be recused from this case,” said Meiers.
Judge Richard Yuille said he needs to hear testimony from the detective who witnessed the questioning. The detective is currently out of town. He scheduled a hearing for April 5, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
A decision may be made then.
Tuesday the judge heard arguments on evidence in the case against Brandon Hayes. Hayes' attorney James Piazza argued his client's alleged confession should be thrown out, because he was not mentally capable of confessing.
The judge said he would review evidence and make a decision later.
