Babysitter manslaughter case in Court

Danna Banner

In the Belize District, a case of manslaughter against a Ladyville woman came to a sudden halt today when the jury, which had been hearing her case over the past two weeks, had to be discharged. Twenty-four year old Danna Banner was initially charged in 2008 following the death of a toddler in her care. The charge was withdrawn because the case file was not ready in time for trial, but the D.P.P. had the case reinstated in July 2010. And so Banner is back before the courts, but during a voire dire this morning, both the prosecutor and the defense attorney made submissions that the case should be stopped in the best interest of the accused.  Justice Herbert Lord then ordered a retrial and the case is now set for the April session of the Supreme Court. The trial is in connection with the death of two year-old Vernice Rodriguez, who passed away as a result of head trauma caused by a blunt object. Banner was hired in Cayo as a fulltime babysitter by Haydon Rodriguez, the child’s father who had full custody.  Rodriguez worked at a bar and did not want his daughter in that environment. Banner was also living in Cayo at the time, but soon moved to Ladyville and took Vernice to stay with her. But on May eighteenth, 2008 Banner reportedly rushed her to the hospital because she had trouble breathing and simply left her there. The child died while undergoing treatment. Before today’s ruling, Prosecutor, Kaysia Grant had called three witnesses, including Haydon and two Scenes of Crime police officers.