Judge: Case vs. baby death suspect 'paper thin'

A Burlington judge has decided that evidence showing reasonable grounds still exists to charge a Shelburne man with the second-degree murder of two-year-old Aiden Haskins — but that probable cause is "literally paper thin."

Joshua Blow, 26, is charged with second-degree murder following Aiden's death on July 22, but he will no longer be held without bail by the court, "taking into account the apparent present weakness of the state's evidence," Judge Michael Kupersmith wrote in his decision and order issued Friday.

Kupersmith set bail at $25,000, and he set conditions, including that Blow have no contact with several members of Aiden's family — including the toddler's mother, maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather and maternal uncle. Kupersmith also ordered that if released, Blow be prohibited from intentionally being 300 feet from any of those people's homes, places of employment or cars.

Blow was the boyfriend of Aiden's mother, and he was one of at least four caretakers for the toddler, according to court papers. He was lodged again at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town on Friday for failure to give bail.

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"He came up with stories to explain the injuries," the memo stated. "None of the other three caretakers reported any stories about what caused Aiden's injuries, nor did they identify themselves as being the one who caused them."

Prosecutors also stated that Blow had the opportunity to injure Aiden as he was alone with the toddler four days during the week before he left for work. Blow also spent Sundays alone with Aiden.

However, Blow's attorneys wrote in their memo that multiple people had opportunities to injure Aiden while they cared for the toddler.

"There is no evidence — direct or corroborating — that supports findings of probable cause that Defendant caused the injuries that caused Aiden's death," the defense memo stated.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.