Jurors heard from famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden on Friday before beginning deliberations Saturday in the trial of a man accused of murder and aggravated child abuse in the 2018 death of a 2-year-old Hixson girl.
Baden did not examine the body of Annie Burkett Shell, who prosecutors say was violently shaken by her babysitter’s boyfriend, Benjamin Brown, on the morning of Aug. 9, 2018, and died 12 days later. However, Baden did study the medical records and autopsy report on the toddler’s death.
The former chief medical examiner for the city of New York has testified in numerous high-profile trials – including those of O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector, Jeffrey Epstein and Derek Chauvin.
Baden told Judge Barry Steelman’s court that he disagreed with Hamilton County Chief Medical Examiner James Metcalfe’s opinion that shaken baby syndrome was the child’s cause of death.
“Because it’s an impact that causes the syndrome, not shaking,” Baden said.