Judge rules to eliminate evidence from jury's eyes, ears

Judge Robert F. McElhany ruled on several motions Thursday to eliminate evidence from the eyes and ears to the jury in a case of murder, including the victim's father's past.For the better part of a week Veronica Salcedo's defense attorney Mary Beth Acton and prosecutor Karin Bjork presented motions and argued before the court each in an attempt to suppress various pieces of evidence.Salcedo is accused of shaking 15-month-old Hannah Rose Juceam May 11, 2006 in her parent's Roseville home, causing fatal injuries.Of the multiple motions from both sides one was a motion to impeach Scott Juceam, Hannah's father, as a witness.Impeachment of a witness is the process of calling into question the credibility of an individual who is testifying in a trial. Judge McElhany referred to the incident in question as the "Arizona incident" and involves a verbally violent recorded telephone conversation, reportedly between Scott Juceam and a man identified as Ed Magedson, who operates an online consumer watch group.On the recording, posted on ripoffreport.com, a voice believed to be that of Juceam, is heard making threats and using vulgar language. "You're going to be fish food," the angry voice said. "We'll turn over every rock and stone."Bjork said admitting the recording does not benefit the case and could prejudice a jury."They would say this is a bad thing and infer fault of Hannah's injuries to Scott Juceam," Bjork said to the court. "No one has seen Scott Juceam act badly toward Hannah or any child for that matter."Judge McElhany ruled that the phone call could not be used to impeach Juceam as a witness, because if "little probative value," meaning it is not sufficient evidence.Since his daughter's death, Juceam has formed The Hannah Rose Foundation and been an outspoken advocate to educate the public on the dangers of shaking a child. Officials said Salcedo was baby-sitting for the Juceam family on May 11, 2006. Scott Juceam was at work and Lorena Juceam left her Roseville home to run an errand at an area bank.She received a phone call from Salcedo just 15 minutes after she left her home. Salcedo said there was something wrong with Hannah. Lorena Juceam said she then called 911 and arrived at home to find paramedics attending to her infant daughter.Hannah was taken off life support May 13, 2006.Salcedo remains in custody on $1 million bail in Placer County Jail on a charge of assault causing death to a child, which carries a 25-to-life sentence. The prosecution contends that Hannah died from traumatic brain injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.Salcedo has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. Opening statements in the trial are expected next week.The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia. com or post a comment on auburnjournal.com.