NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A 3-year-old girl who was allegedly repeatedly bitten by her mother's boyfriend is permanently disfigured and may have hearing loss, a doctor testified Wednesday.
Dr. Alice Newton, the medical director of the child protection team at Children's Hospital in Boston, contacted child welfare officials after she examined the girl in May and found bite wounds. She said plastic surgery won't be enough to make the girl's lip look normal.
"She is essentially missing her top lip," Newton said during a dangerousness hearing Wednesday in New Bedford District Court. "I've never seen a child who is missing her upper lip."
Prosecutors have charged Bryan James, 34, the live-in boyfriend of the girl's mother, Jessica Silveira, 26, in the biting attacks.
Both were ordered held without bail for 90 days following the dangerousness hearing Wednesday. Prosecutors intend to bring the case to trial before the 90 day period runs out, said Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the Bristol District Attorney's office.
James is charged with assault and battery on a child and mayhem. Police say James bit off a portion of the girl's lip and beat her in the head so often that one of her ears is deformed.
Silveira is accused of allowing the alleged abuse, covering it up and misleading investigators to protect her boyfriend.
Both pleaded not guilty last week after their arrest on July 4.
Police believe the biting attacks began in January and continued until April. New Bedford police began investigating in May after the girl was taken to Children's Hospital. The girl and her older brother have been taken into state custody.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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