Stepfather denies harming Haleigh Poutre

(Pool Photo)

During his testimony, Strickland indicated an area where, he said, he noticed Haleigh had been injured.

By Patricia Wen, Globe Staff

SPRINGFIELD -- Haleigh Poutre's stepfather took the stand late this morning in his child abuse trial, saying he never harmed the girl and only sometimes gave her a "tap to the head" if she wasn't listening when he spoke to her.

Speaking publicly for the first time since he was charged with severe abuse, Jason Strickland, 34, described himself in measured tones as a caring breadwinner of the home, working 10-hour days as an auto mechanic and leaving the running of the household to his wife, Holli.

He said that he noticed occasional wounds, even one severe burn mark on the girl's feet, but that he was told by his wife that they were from accidents or a result of a psychological condition in which Haleigh sometimes harmed herself. Strickland said he knew that Haleigh was being seen by therapists and clinicians on a weekly basis for self-injurious behavior.

He said he never struck either of his two stepdaughters, Holli or Samantha Poutre.

"Did you ever physically punish either child?" asked defense attorney Alan Black.

"No," replied Strickland.

"Did you ever hurt either child?"

"No."

The stepfather's testimony is expected to resume after the lunch break. He is charged with causing the near-fatal brain injury that brought Haleigh, comatose and bruised, to a Westfield hospital on Sept. 11, 2005, or at least knowing about the injury and failing to protect the girl. His wife was also charged, but she died shortly afterward in an apparent murder-suicide with her grandmother.

Strickland testified that the only punishment used in the home was giving the children a timeout for misbehavior or sending them to their rooms. He said that he noticed occasional bruises, cuts, and burn marks on Haleigh, but that his wife always had an explanation for them.

During questioning by Black, Strickland portrayed the Westfield family's home life as one in which he did odd jobs, such as installing a new stove or putting in new flooring, tasks that Haleigh often assisted him with. Strickland said he welcomed the help.

He said it was his wife, Haleigh's adoptive mother, who cared for the girl on a day-to-day basis and took her to all her medical or psychological appointments.

His defense attorney's questions seemed focused on suggesting that if any adult in the home was harming Haleigh, it was Holli, and not Jason, who had a more detached role in domestic life.

Strickland said he noticed that Haleigh wore long-sleeve shirts and long slacks throughout the year, even in the summer. He said he occasionally questioned her choice of clothes, but did not look deeply into it. He said when he noticed any bruises, he was told about an accident, such as the girl falling from her bike or being hit by a baseball. Typically, he said, his wife took Haleigh to the doctors when the injuries were more serious.

His defense attorney asked about an array of tools and other objects, including handcuffs that were found in the home by police after Haleigh fell into a coma. He said the tools were from his work as a handyman around the house. He said the handcuffs were purchased by his wife shortly after their son, Cody, was born. He said the couple's sex life soured soon after that birth, and Holli had bought the handcuffs "to spice it up." Strickland said he did not want to use the handcuffs, and it was "Holli's idea."

The prosecution has contended that, among Haleigh's many injuries, were ligature marks suggesting that physical restraints were used on her. The prosecutor also has contended that Haleigh showed signs of multiple cigarette burns.

Black questioned Strickland about events on the weekend of Sept. 10 and 11, 2005, when Haleigh's traumatic brain injury occurred. Strickland described an ordinary weekend in which he had put in a new stove in the kitchen and the family went to one of Samantha's soccer games on Saturday afternoon. He said that after that game Haleigh said "she didn't feel great."

After dinner, he said, his wife stayed home with Haleigh because she was not feeling well, and he took Samantha and the couple's 2-year-old son to the Holyoke Mall around 7 p.m. He said Haleigh was taking a bath and preparing for bed when he last saw her that weekend. He said Holli had fixed Haleigh "some chicken soup."

When he and the two other children returned from the mall at about 9 p.m., he did not see Haleigh, he said.

Strickland's testimony directly contradicts Samantha's testimony earlier in the trial. Samantha, now 12, said that she saw Strickland push Haleigh down a set of basement stairs that Saturday afternoon, while her mother watched. The girl described seeing Holli and Jason Strickland trying to rouse Haleigh, who was unconscious at the bottom of the steps. She said Haleigh was taken to the girls' bedroom that afternoon, and as far as she knew, Haleigh never regained consciousness that whole weekend. In a startling moment in court, however, Samantha was unable to identify Strickland when asked to do so.

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