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Father is facing murder charges
Man in prison for abusing daughter, who has died
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An Oxnard man is facing second-degree murder charges after the daughter he physically abused when she was an infant died Feb. 7 at the age of 9.
Harry Pahl, 40, pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday. If he is convicted, he could be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee set a preliminary hearing for May 15.
The child, Barbara, was being cared for at a board-and-care facility, Senior Deputy District Attorney Richard Simon said.
"The child was severely injured and brain-damaged as a result of the actions committed by the defendant back in August 1997," Simon said. "The child never recovered from that, and we determined that the cause of death was the initial crime, the child abuse back in '97."
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More from Local NewsPahl had been in prison in connection with his daughter's physical abuse since he was convicted and was about a month away from being released.
Simon said he had been sentenced to 10 years for the abuse of his daughter.
"There is case law that says when a person dies and it is a result of what was initially done, we can still charge murder. It is an exception to the double jeopardy law," Simon said.
"He is just getting, now, what the law says he should get," he added.
Simon has said that if he is convicted, Pahl will get credit for time served.
Posted by daner420420 on April 17, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We parents must protect our children NOT harm them. Shame on you Harry.
Posted by bebez_girl on April 17, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not Shame on you Harry... they need to turn around and do the exact same thing he did to his child.
Their are so many people out there trying to have kids and they can't and here you have this monster who had one and instead of taking care of her and protecting her he was the one who caused all the damage.
Posted by anaiverson_2002 on April 18, 2007 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why should he get credit for the time he served. that is not right justice needs to be served the right way and punish him not reward him.
Posted by RC on April 19, 2007 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sad..what a sick jerk
Posted by romadati on April 20, 2007 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And if this poor child had not died and this awful "father" was soon being released from prison, I wouldn't be surprised if some social worker in Ventura County would have recommended he get visitation rights, because, you know, after all, we all have parental rights...(makes me ill to my stomach...)
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