Lorita Lanej>murder of baby/Parents charged child abuse Parents plead not guilty to allowing child's abuseLanej arraignment on murder charge delayed
December 15, 2006
By Ron Wood
The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE -- Parents of a dead toddler pleaded not guilty Friday to charges they allowed the child to be abused.
Arraignment of the woman charged with capital murder in the child's death was re-set.
Elmitha Saito, 26, and Junious K. Annam, 27, are charged with permitting abuse of a minor, which is a felony. Trial is set for Feb. 16 in Washington County Circuit Court. Both are free on $25,000 bond. Saito and Annam face five to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000 if convicted.
Lorita Lanej, 23, who was caring for the boy, is charged with capital murder. She was to have been arraigned Friday; but the arraignment was reset to Dec. 20 because of a scheduling conflict involving her lawyer.
Lanej is being held on $250,000 bond in the Washington County Jail. She faces life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
According to prosecutors, Lanej "shook, squeezed and applied extreme force" to Dale Annam, causing internal injuries, asphyxiation and, ultimately, death.
Dale was dead when police arrived at the family's apartment complex on Valley Lake Drive on Nov. 16. Police said the 23-month-old had severe burns on his feet and hands.
Police claim to have a taped confession from Lanej.Lanej first told police the wounds were from an earlier scalding accident in a hot bath but later told them she scalded the child because he wouldn't stop crying, according to court documents.
Police said the parents didn't try to get medical help for the child.
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/12/15/news/121606fzlanejmurder.txt
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