Opening statements start today in the trial of 24-year-old Tyson Hammond, who is accused of killing his 10-week-old daughter, McKenzie, two years ago.
A jury of 12, with two alternates, was chosen from a pool of more than 80 people Tuesday afternoon in Grand Forks District Court.
Six men and eight women will hear the case. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Tyson Hammond was watching McKenzie and an older daughter on the morning of Oct. 8, 2005, when the infant began to vomit, according to court records. McKenzie was pronounced dead in Altru Hospital later, after Hammond and emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate her. Former state medical examiner Dr. George Mizell ruled the child's death a homicide, saying the infant died from suffocation by asphyxiation.
Assistant State's Attorney David Jones is prosecuting the case.
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Hammond has maintained he had nothing to do with his daughter's death. He is being defended by Grand Forks attorney Alex Reichert.
McKenzie had been in and out of hospitals since her premature birth, according to court files. Hammond and his former wife, Angela, also had taken the child to a chiropractor for a medical condition.
The infant's last medical appointment was the day before she died, according to court files.
McKenzie was taken to a pediatrician that day because she was "fussy and not eating," according to the paperwork filed with the district court.
A day later, the child was dead.
McKenzie's last day began with crying and an early morning feeding, according to court documents. Hammond's former wife fed the child several ounces of milk at about 7 a.m., and the child slept again for about an hour and a half.
Then, Hammond woke to take care of the two girls. The three were watching cartoons, the infant in a bouncing chair, when McKenzie began vomiting.
McKenzie was not breathing, and Hammond and his former wife dialed 911 for assistance. It was then, according to court files, that Hammond attempted to perform CPR.
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In his homicide determination, Mizell said there were bruises on the child's face and that her ribs were broken.
Doctors for the defense said in reports filed with the court that it would be unlikely for vomiting or a pulse to be present if the child had been smothered to death.
