Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Dad pleads not guilty to setting 10-year-old stepdaughter on fire (Wichita, Kansas)

Dad CHRIS NEWBERRY has pleaded not guilty to charges that he deliberately doused his 10-year-old stepdaughter with lighter fluid and set her on fire.

http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/971634.html

Posted on Tue, Sep. 15, 2009

Father accused of setting child on fire pleads not guilty

BY RON SYLVESTER
The Wichita Eagle

WICHITA — Chris Newberry waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning and pleaded not guilty to charges that include setting his stepdaughter on fire.

Sedgwick County District Judge Ben Burgess tentatively scheduled Newberry for trial in November. The case is likely to go to trial months later.

Newberry is charged with attempted murder and five counts of aggravated arson. Prosecutors say he doused his 10-year-old stepdaughter, Caitlyn Johnson, with lighter fluid and set her on fire as she slept in her bed last March. Several other family members were at home when the fire broke out.