The Nation - News from Jan. 30, 1989

Jurors in the New York trial of Joel Steinberg, accused of killing his 6-year-old adopted daughter, deliberated for a seventh day amid predictions of a manslaughter verdict. Acting Justice Harold Rothwax told the state Supreme Court jury not to weigh lesser charges unless it decided to acquit Steinberg of second-degree murder, and the jury sought repeated instructions on a manslaughter verdict. The panel sent out a note indicating it was unable to find that Steinberg intended serious injury to Lisa Steinberg, who slipped into a coma and died after he allegedly punched her in the head. The jury also asked to hear again testimony from Hedda Nussbaum, Steinberg’s former live-in lover, who gave the most damaging testimony against him.