dailyloe.com – In La Crosse, Wisconsin, the jury is preparing to reach a verdict in the trial of 34-year-old Josie Dikeman, who is accused of murdering 6-year-old Alexavier Pedrin. The trial has lasted two and a half weeks, and the jury will review approximately two hours of bodycam footage on Friday before making their final decision.
An autopsy revealed that Alexavier died from blunt force trauma, and the toxic effects of a prescribed sedative were also noted as contributing factors. Dikeman’s children testified that they witnessed her physically assault Alexavier multiple times.
During closing arguments, state attorneys highlighted the severity of Alexavier’s injuries, stating, “You saw the bruising on his body, on multiple planes on both sides of his face, head, and throughout all sides of his scalp, including on the top of his head. That was this defendant’s stamp of abuse,” said District Attorney Matthew Torbenson.
The defense argued that Dikeman’s guilt cannot be reasonably established, claiming that the investigation focused on proving her culpability from the outset. Defense Attorney David Bolles remarked, “A 911 call comes in, reporting the tragic death of a child. Even in that first moment, Josie raises the possibility of overdose. So, what does law enforcement do? They sure happenstance. They arrive in minutes and immediately judge Josie guilty.”
The defense also suggested that Alexavier’s father, Derek Pedrin, had a more significant role in the child’s death than Dikeman. Although the state characterizes Derek as a domestic abuser, Torbenson cautioned the jury against accepting Dikeman’s defense strategy as a means to absolve her of guilt. “Don’t fall for this defendant’s smoke screen. Do not let her use his domestic violence against her to allow her to get away with the homicide of a child,” he stated.
Defense attorneys urged the jury to consider various reasonable explanations consistent with Dikeman’s innocence, emphasizing the importance of a fair investigation. Bolles stated, “It doesn’t achieve justice when there remain multiple, reasonable explanations that are consistent with Josie’s innocence. It is up to you alone as jurors to determine that.”
If found guilty, Dikeman faces a potential life sentence in prison. The jury began deliberations at around 3:30 PM on Thursday and plans to reach a decision on Friday.
