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Dad On Trial Cries As 911 Call Played

St. Augustine Father On Trial On Charge Of Manslaughter

POSTED: Tuesday, November 17, 2009

A man found asleep in his home the day his daughter died in a car parked in the summer sun reeked of alcohol, prosecutors said Tuesday as the trial of Omar Long began.

Long was arrested in June on a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of his 23-month-old daughter, Arianna.

Long had told police he did not know his daughter was strapped in a car seat in the back of the car when he took his wife to work, returned home and took a nap after a night of drinking and partying.

Family members found the girl unresponsive several hours later. She was pronounced dead at Flagler Hospital.

Prosecutors told the jury that Long either forgot or never knew the girl was strapped in a car seat in the back of the car.

Defense attorneys said in opening statements that Long's sister-in-law called Arianna's mother and apologized for not taking any action when she heard the crying in the car.

Seritia Montgomery
One of the first prosecution witnesses was Seritia Montgomery, Omar Long's sister-in-law, who denied that she heard the baby crying in the car the morning she died.
On the witness stand Tuesday, the sister-in-law, Seritia Montgomery, denied that, saying, "I didn't hear her crying in the car that morning."

Long appeared emotional as the 911 call made by Long's brother after his wife found the girl purple and unresponsive in the car was played in court Tuesday afternoon.

Caller: My little, my little girl, my little niece was in the car and she's not breathing.

911: How long was the kid in the car, do you know?

Caller: I cannot freaking believe this dude.

911: When was the last time you had seen him?

Caller: Dude, he just woke up. I just woke up. My brother must have accidentally left her. I don't know. I don't know what's going on.

Nicki Anderson, the girl's mother, testified Tuesday that Long swerved on his way to taking her to work and fell asleep at a red light. But she said she does not believe he was under the influence that morning.

Many of Long's friends and family -- including another of his children -- have supported him during the six months he has been held on $250,000 bond. They said it was a tragic accident that could happen to anyone.

A medical examiner is expected to testify Wednesday.

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