Closing arguments heard in former babysitter's involuntary manslaughter trial over baby's overdose death

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Jury deliberations have begun in the involuntary manslaughter trial of former babysitter Dixie Villa.

Villa is accused of giving 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch a fatal dose of Benadryl in 2019, then causing her death.

After a week-long hearing, both sides presented closing arguments in court Wednesday.

Defense attorney Megan Kau reiterated that there was not enough evidence to clearly detail and fully prove what happened, nor was there any evidence to prove who administered the fatal dose to the child.

“Denise (Dixie) is not guilty because after all these days of hearings, all these witnesses, still no one has told us what happened. “No one has explained to us how Abigail Lobisch died,” Kau said.

Prosecutors argued that the testimony of witnesses and medical experts made it clear who was to blame.

“You do not lack evidence to support your logic and common sense. In jury selection, everyone said they were going to want evidence in addition to what people said, and you have evidence. You have the testimony of first responders, civilian witnesses, Brianna and Anna, experts, and state physicians. You have the exhibits,” Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Kaeo said.

Kau argued there are significant questions about who had access to the baby when the incident occurred, including the teenagers at Villa’s home.

“The government must convince you beyond a reasonable doubt,” Kau told the jury. “Not, ‘Oh, it must have happened this way.’ Not ‘I think it could have happened this way’. Not ‘This is probably how it happened’. The government must prove this beyond a reasonable doubt. Your decision must be based on the evidence, or lack thereof. It cannot be based on the prosecutor’s closing statement saying ‘It must have happened this way’. “He must have.”

Prosecutors said the defense was trying to shift the crime.

“The defense would have you believe there was a charge going around. Blame Abby’s mother, who may have taken a medication she was allergic to. Blame the detective for not collecting evidence five months after Abby died. Blame the medical examiner for concluding that Abby’s death was caused by poisoning and not something else. Blame everyone, but ignore the actions and choices of the defendants,” Kaeo said.

Villa did not take the stand during the hearing.

The talks are planned to continue on Thursday.

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