Woman on trial for death of baby left in car

An emotional morning Tuesday in court as opening statements began in the trial of Wakesha Ives.

Ives is accused of injury to a child and criminal negligent homicide after leaving her 5-month-old daughter inside her car while she went to work at Riverside High School where she’s a teacher.

According to police reports in 2013 Ives walked out of her classroom just after 4 p.m. and met her stepson Kendall.

When getting in their SUV they said they smelled a musky scent. Once they removed the blankets from the car seat she realized her daughter Janay was still buckled in and unresponsive.

Defense attorney Jim Darnell told the jury they would hear a lot of perspective from police, school administrators and staff but made sure the jury knew Ives was on new high-blood-pressure medication that had an effect on her.

Darnell said the medications made it difficult for her to sleep. They made her groggy, confused and tired.

The defense finished their opening statement saying evidence will show it was an involuntary act.

Meanwhile prosecutors played the 911 call for the jury. While it was played Ives became uncontrollably emotional. Judge Patrick Garcia called for a break.

Prosecutors also called on the Chief Medical Examiner Mario Rascon. He told the jury the baby had died of heat exposure after being left inside of a hot vehicle.

Both the defense and the prosecutors called several witnesses to the stand.

Two employees of the school said in the days before the incident Ives acted isolated, distant and wasn’t acting herself.

When the hearing was over the judge asked the jurors not to talk to anyone about the case to stay away from watching the news and to stay away from social media.

The trial resumes at 8:30 Wednesday morning.