Wrath of Abrams’ alleged mayhem told

Alex Coolman

SANTA ANA -- The prosecution in the trial of the man accused of

killing two children at a Costa Mesa day care center in 1999 ended its

case Tuesday by providing jurors with graphic details of the injuries

that ultimately claimed the youngsters’ lives.

The day’s testimony focused primarily on filling in the details of the

wreckage Steve Allen Abrams caused when he drove onto the crowded

playground of the Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center on May 3,

1999.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Debora Lloyd, wearing a crisp, cream-colored suit,

brought to the stand the forensic pathologist who performed autopsies on

Sierra Soto, 4, and Brandon Wiener, 3, the two children killed in the

incident.

Aruna Singhania, the pathologist, described in gruesome detail the

massive injuries the two children sustained when they were hit by Abrams’

huge 1967 Cadillac.

Lloyd also presented the testimony of several parents whose children

were injured but not killed in the collision. The injuries of the young

victims ranged from disfiguring facial wounds and mental damage to minor

cuts and abrasions.

Abrams faces two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder

for his actions. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but

could face the death penalty if he is found guilty and is deemed to have

been sane at the time of the event.

Cindy Soto, the mother of Sierra, was scheduled to be the final

witness for the prosecution.

But public defender Leonard Gumlia objected to the presentation of her

testimony on the grounds that it was irrelevant (because the death of her

daughter has been established by earlier testimony) and likely to prove

highly emotional for the jury.

“There’s no way you can get Ms. Soto up on that stand and not have the

jurors in tears,” said Judge John Ryan, sustaining Gumlia’s objection.

“Well, I don’t think you run over a school full of children and not

have a few tears,” Lloyd responded.

Gumlia’s defense, which began today, is expected to be brief. Closing

statements in the trial will probably be made Wednesday.