Trish Mehaffey, CR Gazette –
Jury selection starts Monday in the murder trial of Zyriah Schlitter, who is accused in the death of his 17-month-old toddler in 2010.
There will be about 100 potential jurors called and selection proceedings will start at 9 a.m. in Linn County District Court. The trial is expected to last more than two weeks.
Schlitter, 25, of Cedar Rapids, charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment, is accused in toddler Kamryn Schlitter’s death March 28, 2010. According to investigators, Kamryn suffered a subdural hematoma on the left side of her head and severe bruising on her neck, chin, underarms and her chest. She died of severe head trauma.
A judge ruled last week statements Schlitter voluntarily made to investigators in three interviews before they arrested and charged him will be allowed at trial. In the interviews, investigators ask Schlitter how Kamryn got the injuries, including brain hemorrhaging and severe bruising on her body, but Schlitter says he can’t explain the injuries.
Schlitter’s ex-girlfriend, Amy Jo Parmer, 29, of Hiawatha, is also charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment. Her trial is set Jan. 14, 2013.
According to the criminal complaint, Schlitter and Parmer, either individually or jointly, inflicted the fatal injuries to Kamryn, knowingly permitted the other co-defendant to abuse her and/or failed to protect the child from the other co-defendant.
Reporter Trish Mehaffey will provide live coverage from the courtroom of the trial when testimony begins Tuesday. Viewers can participate by posting comments and asking her questions.
