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Mom on trial in daughter’s death says she never noticed bruises

Malak Deek is shown in a Greene County Courtroom in Xenia. Deek was on trial in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Juliana Berry, who died after allegedly being beaten repeatedly by Deek's boyfriend, Brian LaPrairie. Jurors could not reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.

Staff photo by Ron Alvey Malak Deek is shown in a Greene County Courtroom in Xenia. Deek was on trial in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Juliana Berry, who died after allegedly being beaten repeatedly by Deek's boyfriend, Brian LaPrairie. Jurors could not reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.

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By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 12:53 AM Thursday, September 10, 2009

XENIA — The Fairborn mother on trial for the death of 2-year-old Juliana Berry testified Wednesday, Sept. 9, that she didn’t regret not seeking medical attention for her daughter in the days before her death.

“She didn’t seem like she was injured or hurt,” Malak Deek, 21, told jurors during a full day of testimony. “I’m still baffled by what happened.”

Greene County Prosecutor Stephen K. Haller asked repeatedly why Juliana wasn’t taken to a doctor the days around Christmas after the little girl had hit her head, had some type of seizure, was vomiting and too tired to open presents.

“You didn’t do anything to give her medical care,” Haller said.

Deek testified that if she suspected Juliana was being abused, as prosecutors claim, she would have done whatever possible to protect the little girl.

“I would have gotten myself out of that position like I did when I was a kid with my own father,” she said.

Deek wept often as she described the last months of Juliana’s short life. She clutched a blanket that Juliana carried with her everywhere.

“There’s a little hole in this blanket and she would always stick her little finger through it and say: 'Blanket broken. Mommy fix it,’” Deek testified, weeping.

The only time she and her daughter were separated, Deek said, was when she was working at Speedway in Fairborn.

Deek is charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangering because prosecutors claim she did nothing to stop the repeated abuse Juliana suffered at the hands of Brian LaPrairie, Deek’s live-in boyfriend. She is now pregnant with his child.

LaPrairie will stand trial Sept. 21 for murder and felonious assault. Both also face charges accusing them of selling marijuana.

Deek testified repeatedly that neither she nor anyone else noticed any signs of abuse on Juliana until the 2-year-old was admitted to Children’s Medical Center of Dayton on Dec. 27.

Juliana was brain dead when she was admitted, and doctors removed life support two days later while she was at her daughter’s side, Deek said.

Closing statements are expected this morning.

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