Jury hears police interview with Lynn mom charged in shaken baby case

SALEM – A Superior Court jury heard on Thursday the mother of an infant who was severely injured say in a videotaped interview with Lynn police she didn?t know of any abuse the baby suffered.But the woman, Maely Quinones, 25, of Lynn, did admit her then-husband, Jose Aquino, 26, of Lynn did at least once rouse the former couple?s baby, Elianny Aquino, from a nap “so she would sleep at night.”In the video, Quinones demonstrates the way Aquino picked up the then 2-month-old infant and held her in front of his face, kissing her cheeks to wake her up. She insists he did not shake the child violently.?But what happens when you?re at work and he tries to wake her up?” Lynn Police Lt. Marie Hanlon asks the suspect in the interview.?I don?t know,” Quinones says.Aquino, 26, is charged with two counts of assault and battery on a child with injury, while Quinones, 25, is charged with assault and battery on a child and reckless endangerment of a child.Prosecutors contend Aquino shook the baby at least twice, but it?s unclear why Quinones is facing an assault and battery charge.Both denied in police interviews knowing how the infant became injured, but insist they were the only ones who took care of the baby in the days before the investigation began.Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall alleges the parents abused Eliany at least twice between May 22 and July 28, 2009, when she was admitted to the hospital and found to have severe bleeding in her brain and behind her eyes that caused permanent brain damage and vision impairment.Six weeks after Elianny?s birth, Quinones went back to work at Lynn Community Health Center and Aquino took over primary care for the baby, she explains in the video, recorded on July 31, 2009.In the days leading up to Elianny?s hospitalization, Aquino did most of the night feedings so Quinones was well-rested for work, and was the only one with her during the day, according to trial testimony.During the Lynn Police interview with Aquino, detectives press him to admit if he “lost control” for a moment and shook the baby out of frustration.?I?ve got two other (daughters)?I?m not gonna say something happened when it didn?t,” Aquino told detectives with the help of a translator. “We are always very cautious with the child.”Quinones said in her interview with Halon that she saw bruises on the infant?s cheek the day after Aquino allegedly shook her, but thought it was because the baby had fallen asleep on her pacifier.Following the videos, MacDougall called a final witness, Bonnie Wilson, the primary physical therapist who works with Elianny twice a week.MacDougall presented the jury with photographs of the now almost 3-year-old child in which she is wearing what Wilson called a “dense foam” helmet to protect the part of her brain that is not covered by her skull.Doctors from Children?s Hospital in Boston testified Wednesday that after being transferred there from Salem Hospital, where her parents brought her, Elianny underwent emergency surgery to remove half of her skull in order to relieve swelling and bleeding. Surgeons have so far been unable to reattach a portion of the skull, and one doctor said they will likely try again when she is 5 years old.In one of the pictures, she is standing on her own.?That little girl is truly a miracle baby, who has made unbelievable strides,” Wilson said. “She is a typical 2-year-old in many ways. She?s happy, she is walking.”The child receives speech, occupational and physical therapy, Wilson said, but has bad depth perception, which hinders her balance. She has recently begun forming “two or three-word phrases.”The prosecution is expected to rest early Monday morning, and then defense attorneys John Haggerty and John Morris of Salem are expected to call a neurosurgeon to the stand.They have not cross-examined many of MacDougall?s witnesses, except to ask physicians if the baby?s injuries could have resulted from a traumatic birth.Taylor Provost can be reached at tprovost@item