New Haven couple whose toddler son died in baby sitter’s care granted probation Boy suffered fatal trauma while in care of baby sitter

NEW HAVEN >> The parents of a 19-month-old boy who died after they allowed a baby sitter to continue caring for him have been granted accelerated rehabilitation, to avoid time in prison.

Sivakumar Mani, 35, and his wife, Thenmozhi Rajendran, 26, both of 77 Weybosset St., will have their charges of risk of injury to a child and interfering with an officer dismissed two years from now if they complete the program.

But the baby sitter, Kinjal Patel, 29, formerly of Middletown Avenue, has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for an agreement by which she will serve 14 years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 29.

The toddler, Athiyan Sivakumar, died at Yale-New Haven Hospital Jan. 19, 2014, three days after his parents rushed him out of Patel’s apartment, where she had been the only adult watching over him.

The parents were charged with interfering with police because they reportedly lied to police about what had happened the night the boy was injured. Rajendran allegedly told police initially that she was taking care of her son when she noticed his breathing was abnormal. Then she allegedly said he had fallen while reaching for a doorknob.

Mani allegedly backed up the “abnormal breathing” story.

In addition, police said in their warrant that the boy had been brought to the hospital Dec. 24, 2013, also while he was being watched by Patel. After he was treated for facial injuries, hospital officials notified staffers at the state Department of Children and Families that it was a possible risk of injury case.

A DCF investigation showed the boy had been under Patel’s care that day in December. The parents then signed an agreement barring them from using baby sitters until DCF assessed the December event.

The office of the state’s chief medical examiner ruled the boy died in the second event from blunt force trauma. Patel’s attorney, Kevin Smith, has said the death was accidental. But the warrant quoted Patel saying that after she got mad at the boy for acting up, she slammed his feet into the floor three times, shook his head and pushed him, causing him to fall backward and hit his head.

The parents’ attorney, Charles Tiernan III, filed the application for accelerated rehabilitation. Those arrangements are offered to defendants with no prior criminal record,

Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Miranda told Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford she would not oppose accelerated rehabilitation, even though they “made a really bad decision” that probably cost their boy his life.

But Miranda added, “They are also the victims. They will have to live with their decision for the rest of their lives.”

Tiernan noted the two have no other children. Referring to their boy’s death, he said, “That’s a punishment no one should have to bear.”

He added, “I hope they can have children in the future and enjoy the experience.”

The parents did not speak during the hearing.

Clifford agreed they had made “a grossly bad decision.” But he added, “They’re the ones who have to live with it. I’m not sure what else the criminal justice system can do.” He said he didn’t see what it would accomplish to send them to prison.

Thus Clifford granted them accelerated rehabilitation, attaching conditions that include psychological evaluation and treatment if necessary. If they do have another child, parenting classes will be required.

Call Randall Beach at 203-680-9345.