FRESNO, (KMJ) – Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula’s daughter wrapped up her testimony, Monday in his misdemeanor child abuse trial.
At Fresno County Superior Court, Defense Attorney Margarita Martinez Baly continued her cross examination from the previous Friday, showing a series of photos from family trips and asking the 7-year-old girl to describe what was happening in the photos.
The series of photos were from her family’s trips to Guadalajara, Cambria, Disneyland and one at her elementary school with her dad, wearing his white doctors coat and hugging her as they posed for the career day photo.
She said she’s proud of her daddy.
She described the relationship with her middle sister, saying she cries easily and sometimes she hits her.
The 7-year-old said her parents give her sisters more attention than her. She understands why the youngest gets extra attention she’s the youngest but she doesn’t understand why her middle sister does.
Judge Alvin Harrell called a recess.
Afterwards, more photos showing her with her cousin, Arambula brother’s children, and defense asking her to tell what’s going on in the photo – her description very thorough.
She describes jealousy of her sister and their squabbles and her fight for attention, she is upset she has to share her sister.
Her testimony wrapped up, subject to recall.
Assistant District Attorney Steve Wright called Detective Kenneth Dodd to the stand.
The 28-year Fresno Police veteran said he arranged interviews with the two daughters and witnesses at school.
He told jurors he looked at the photos of the child’s injury and said they didn’t meet the threshold of what they considered ‘great bodily injury.’ So, he said he didn’t initially go to school. The interview took place the day after, with both the 7-year-old and her 6-year-old sister.
The jurors were shown the girl’s taped interview and transcripts at the Fresno County’s MDIC, Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center, a child friendly interview center in which detective Dodd was present.
On the tape, the girl was asked by the interviewer if she knew why she was there.
“I’m here to talk to you because my dad gave me a bruise,” Arambula’s daughter said.
In the video, she described that her dad rushed in to her room, and slapped both sides of her head, and his wedding ring left a bruise – though she also described getting a bruise when her dad tripped on her Rudolph toy in her room.
The video was played and the Judge ended for the day.
After court, the prosecution said they will have Detective Dodd return on Tuesday and anticipate the middle daughter also taking the stand.
Trial reconvenes on Tuesday May 7, 2019 at 9:00am.
Click to listen to the reports by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
