Jurors to begin deliberations Monday in homicide of infant

Jurors on Monday will begin deliberating the fate of Lincoln Levys, accused of killing his infant daughter.

The defense rested Friday afternoon and Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Joseph K. Williams III sent the jury home.

They will hear closing arguments Monday. The judge said he and the lawyers needed time to craft a jury charge made more complicated by the fact that Mr. Levys has not been present at the trial.

Mr. Levys, 29, of Wilkinsburg is accused of killing Sage Levys on Oct. 23, 2014. His lawyer spent the morning grilling Mr. Levys’ wife, Sheena Alston, the government's main witness against her husband.

She admitted that she initially lied to police when she said she had checked on the baby, breastfed her and changed her diaper early on the morning of Sage’s death, when she did none of those things. She also admitted that she had coached her other children to lie about being abused and admitted that she lied when she said there was no marijuana in the house, when in fact there was a marijuana growing operation there.

She said she initially lied because she didn't know what happened to Sage. “I was in a state of shock,” she said. “I lied.”

In subsequent interviews, however, she said she told the truth. “I would never have thought that someone could do something like that,” she said of Mr. Levys’ abuse.

Ms. Alston is charged with child endangerment for failing to protect the children. Asked if she was hoping for consideration in her own case by testifying, she said, “I don't expect anything.”