United States: PhD student accused of murdering baby

A doctoral student in psychology at the University of California, San Diego, was accused of killing a friend’s child on June 15 by fracturing her skull.

Nicole Virginie was babysitting her friend’s six-week-old baby boy, Leon Katz, in Pittsburgh when the child suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, local station WTAE reported.

The 29-year-old student had to attend to little Leon, whose mother went to hospital with the toddler’s twin brother, who allegedly suffered genital injuries, allegedly inflicted by Nicole Virsi.

“Injuries sustained by both [jumeaux] associated with abuse cases because these are natural or accidental injuries,” a doctor told detectives, according to a criminal complaint reported Tuesday.

Nicole Virginie’s attorney, David Schrager, has denied the allegations.

“He was a loving person and a friend to these people who would never harm anyone’s children,” she said. “She is a Ph.D. She was a long time family friend.

Nicole Virginie has no criminal record. He was charged with murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. The student has been remanded until her next court appearance on Friday.