Baby sitter gets
life sentence in murderThe woman was found guilty
of killing a 16-month-old girl
A Salt Lake baby sitter was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for causing the death of a 16-month-old girl in her care almost six years ago.
CORRECTION
Friday, Oct. 3, 2003>> Babysitter Earlily Aganon was sentenced to life with parole for causing the death of a 6-month-old girl in her care in 1997. A Page A5 story yesterday incorrectly identified the child as 16 months old. Also, Aganon was ordered to pay restitution to the Crime Victim's Compensation fund, not to the baby's family.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto also ordered Earlily Aganon, 35, on Tuesday to serve a minimum of 15 years because of the victim's age.
Karie Canencia suffered blunt trauma to the head at Aganon's home on Oct. 21, 1997, and died at the hospital four days later.
Aganon's attorney had argued at trial that she had no medical training but did not believe the baby was in any danger of dying.
Aganon denied causing the baby's injuries, which prosecutors argued was likely caused by having her head bashed on the floor.
Following a jury-waived trial, Sakamoto found Aganon guilty of second-degree murder for intentionally and knowingly causing the baby's death.
In reaching his decision, Sakamoto considered Aganon's failure to call 911 as soon as she noticed the baby was in distress and deceptive comments she later made to the baby's parents.
Sakamoto also ordered Aganon to pay $3,621 restitution to the Canencias.
Aganon was found guilty once before by a jury in December 2001, but the Hawaii Supreme Court overturned the conviction.
The justices had ruled that jury instructions and the court's response to a question from jurors was erroneous.
