Trial begins for custodial dad, step in murder of 5-year-old daughter (Louisiana)

This case is extremely important as there is a great deal of evidence suggesting official collusion and corruption in granting dad WESLEY LOWE custody. Of course, all of that is being swept under the rug now.

See our prior postings on this case.

Mom's lawsuit filing gives some of the basic details.

This article from January 2011 is also excellent.

As is this article from February 2011.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20121112/NEWS01/211120319/Trial-start-Monday-couple-charged-young-child-s-death

Trial begins Monday for stepmother, dad charged in Anna Celeste Lowe's death

12:10 AM, Nov 12, 2012

Written by Mary Nash-Wood
Gannett

It's been 669 days since Anna Celeste Lowe, 5, died.

Christmases, birthdays and first days of school have come and gone without Celeste's bright smile, big blue eyes and tiny voice, yet no one has been held accountable for her death. This year, she would have started the second grade.

Stirring a small amount of creamer and Splenda into her coffee, Celeste's mother, Jamie Mercer, repeats the timeline as it sinks in. The sunlight coming through a Monroe diner's windows hits a necklace carrying a small photo of Celeste — a memento Mercer wears almost constantly.

"I can't believe it's been two years and we're still here with no conviction," Mercer said. "Two years without Celeste, and we're not even close to done."

Mercer said she has tried to remain understanding of the court system, to little avail.

"It's frustrating to say the least," Mercer said. "I want justice for Celeste, but so far, that hasn't happened."

Catherine Lowe, Celeste's stepmother, and Wesley Lowe, Celeste's father, are scheduled to go to trial Monday in Bossier district court in connection with her death. Catherine Lowe, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while Wesley Lowe, 34, is charged with negligent homicide. Catherine pleaded innocent and says she did not harm Celeste. Wesley Lowe also has pleaded innocent.

Mercer said three trial date delays and countless hearings have taken their toll.

"It's been so long that I have to fight to keep every memory of Celeste alive," said Mercer as tears ran down her cheeks. "I have to go to videos to hear my daughter's voice because sometimes I honestly don't remember the sound."

Mercer said attempts to get to a "normal life" have gone by the wayside.

"I will never be able to move on, but I feel like my life has been on hold since she died waiting to see what the next step is," Mercer said.

The case

Celeste died Jan. 13, 2011, as a result of injuries suffered during an encounter with Catherine Lowe, investigators contend. Catherine Lowe's children told police she followed Celeste into a bathroom at the family's Sunset Villa mobile home in Elm Grove.

After the door closed, the children say they heard a very loud thump and they went into the bathroom where Celeste was lying on the floor in obvious pain and vomiting. It wasn't until the next morning that Celeste was brought to Willis Knighton Pierremont in Shreveport and pronounced dead on arrival.

Hospital workers determined Celeste had been dead roughly two hours, and staff noticed rigor mortis present in her face and bruising and trauma over her entire body.

An autopsy report noted among the injuries Celeste suffered: Her stomach was severed from her intestines and she had lacerations on her liver.

The waiting game

Mercer said over the nearly two years since her daughter's death, she has written dozens of times what she wants to say to Catherine and Wesley Lowe.

"I want them to admit they lied about everything," Mercer said. "I want to know why this happened to Celeste, to all of us."

Although Mercer said she's heard some of the facts over and over again, there still are more details surrounding her daughter's death she doesn't know or understand.

"Two years later, I don't know much more today than I knew then," Mercer said.

Bossier-Webster District Attorney Schuyler Marvin said he understands Mercer's issues with how long it has taken to bring the case to trial, but there's little his office could do to prevent it.

"We understand the burden on Ms. Mercer as this case has continued to develop, but so much of what we do is at the mercy of others' schedules and the pursuit of evidence," Marvin said. "We weren't going to go to trial until we were fully confident in what we had, and I think the defense was the same way."

Marvin said there still is a chance a trial may not be necessary. His office has offered Catherine Lowe the option to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, which would carry a maximum 30-year jail sentence.

"Make no mistake that if it is determined we go to trial Monday, we are ready, but at any time, Catherine could change her mind," Marvin said.

"The big question on everyone's mind is what happened to Celeste," Fish said. "We've said all along Catherine did not kill Celeste, and we intend to prove her death was accidental."

Fish said as much as Mercer is ready to get through the trial, so is Catherine Lowe.

"She's obviously scared," Fish said. "She's on trial for her life."

Marvin said part of his case will involve the testimony of Wesley Lowe on behalf of the state. He said some of his key witnesses will be forensic pathologists to establish what Celeste endured in the hours leading up to her death and what they believe ended her life.

Fish said he is bringing in a forensics expert from Atlanta to testify as to how they believe Celeste actually died.

"He's reviewed the case, and we have a strong opinion of how this was a tragic accident," Fish said.

Whatever happens, Mercer said she will be in the courtroom with her family by her side.

"Celeste cannot be there, but I will be," Mercer said. "This doesn't bring her back, but maybe it will bring her peace."