Baby sitter's homicide conviction upheld in appeal's court

MADISON (AP) -- A Wisconsin appeals court has upheld the homicide conviction of a Madison-area baby sitter for causing the death of an infant in her care in 2007.

The Fourth District Court of Appeals on Thursday, July 26th ruled that Jennifer Hancock was properly convicted of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of four-month-old Lincoln Wilber.

An autopsy concluded the boy died from non-accidental abusive head trauma.

Hancock appealed, arguing that prosecutors should not have been allowed to cross-examine her expert witness about articles pertaining to infant trauma written by people not present at the trial.

The appeals court says any error in allowing questioning about the articles was harmless.

Hancock was the only adult caring for the child in a Verona home when he suffered a head injury.