Custodial dad on trial for murder in death of 22-month-old daughter (Jacksonville, Florida)

It's hard to know for certain what happened here, but it seems like the mother was pressured into giving up her parental rights to abuser dad JOSI HALL, who then murdered the girl 11 months after getting full custody. Seems likely, given the subsequent events, that Dad was the guilty party in the earlier case of abuse, too. Hardcore injuries like fractured skulls are more common among father abusers than mother abusers. See study here:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/10/research-in-child-abuse-and-neglect_22.html

http://www.news4jax.com/news/23231683/detail.html

Father On Trial In Toddler's Death
Josi Hall's Trial On Murder Charge Begins

POSTED: Thursday, April 22, 2010
UPDATED: 9:21 pm EDT April 22, 2010

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Prosecutors are attempting to convince a jury that Josi Hall's abuse was responsible for his 22-month-old daughter's death and that Hall should be convicted of murder.

Kyla Joy Hall was found dead in November 2008 in the bedroom of the family's San Pablo Road apartment.

Police said Hall, 25, told detectives he had picked his daughter up at 4 p.m. the day before and she was fine when he put her to bed, but she was unresponsive when he tried to wake her up that morning.

Kyla Joy Hall at 9 months old, when the Florida Department of Children and Families investigated allegations of child abuse against her parents. Those charges were dropped when Kyla's mother voluntarily gave up her parental rights.

The medical examiner's autopsy found that Kyla died of blunt-force injuries and ruled her death a homicide. According to the medical examiner, the toddler was hit so hard in the chest her heart burst.

Four months later, Hall was arrested by the U.S. Marshal's Service and charged with murder.

Channel 4 learned that Hall and his wife at the time were both arrested in April 2007 during an investigation into abuse of Kyla. Investigators said they found both of Kyla's legs broken and her skull fractured. But those charges were dropped due to lack of evidence and prosecutors couldn't prove who did it.

The couple divorced and Kyla's mom gave up her paternal rights. Josi Hall was awarded custody of the girl -- 11 months before she died.

Opening statements began Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors said they will call three witnesses, including two doctors and a detective, in an effort to show the jury how the crime was pieced together.

"While Kyla Hall was in her crib, when with ill-will, hatred and spite, blunt-force trauma rained down upon her defenseless body," one prosecutor said.

The defense is arguing the investigation into Kyla's death was sloppy. It is also arguing that Kyla's mother could have beaten the girl to death.