Background Mar. 23 1998Update Mar. 24 1998Update Mar. 25 1998 Update Mar. 27 1998 Update Mar. 30 1998 Update Mar. 31 1998 Update April 1 1998 Update April 2 1998 Update April 3 1998 Update April 6 1998 Update April 7 1998 Update April 8 1998 Update April 9 1998 Update The Outcome (1998 Trial) The Bail Hearing (1998) The Verdict (1999 Retrial)

(April 3) The defense for Suzanne Johnson closed its case by calling Johnson's daughter, Cindy Vaughan, to the stand. She tearfully told jurors that her mother was a wonderful caretaker who would never hurt a child.

In fact, Johnson helped Vaughan raise her own child. According toVaughan, she never saw her mother angry with an infant. She also said Johnson told her she was concerned about Jasmine Miller because she thought the infant was not eating enough. But, said Vaughan, her mother never told her she was angry or being driven nuts. Vaughan related how when she was on the phone with her mother, she could hear Jasmine crying, and Johnson would try to console her by calling her "sweetie," "honey," and rocking her. Vaughan believed that Johnson loved Jasmine.

Vaughan also said Johnson was very calm and would take charge when confronted with a stressful situation, and gave an example of how Johnson handled an infant who suffered a seizure while in her care.

However, after Vaughan's testimony, the state presented two rebuttal witnesses to describe a 1993 incident where a young child in Johnson's care had a fractured arm. James Wilkins of the County child protection service agency told jurors that a little girl in Johnson's care had a fractured arm in 1993. However, it was never determined whether the injury actually occurred at Johnson's house. The investigation was inconclusive. Sue Tyner, a daycare licensing consultant for the State of California, also testified about the 1993 fractured arm incident. She described her interview with Johnson at the time, where Johnson said the child had not been herself when she arrived at her house that day. Tyner reiterated that the investigation was inconclusive. The parents of this little girl are expected to testify on Monday.

After the state's rebuttal case concludes, closing arguments are also expected to take place on Monday. The jury is expected to start deciding Suzanne Johnson's fate on Tuesday.