MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER CHARGED WITH KILLING 5 YEAR OLD GIRL WITH A TOXIC BREW AND PLACING PLASTIC BAGS CONTAINING THE BODY AT TRASH COLLECTION SITE

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson today announced that a grand jury has charged the mother and grandmother of a 5-year-old girl with 2 counts of murder in connection with the child's death.

25-year-old Angelic Burney and 46-year-old Rosa Wilkerson, of 2769 University Avenue, were charged with causing the death of 5-year-old Amy Burney "in a manner evincing a depraved indifference to human life".

The two women, who are facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment if convicted, were also charged with an administrative code violation for failing to report the child's death and disposing of the body unlawfully.

The defendants admitted forcibly administering "a mixture of ammonia and other household products" to the little girl before inserting a piece of cloth in her mouth and taping it shut. After the child died, the defendants admitted wrapping the body in plastic bags and placing it at a trash collection site.

Angelic Burney and Rosa Wilkerson are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Monday, June 23, 1997 in State Supreme Court, Part "A". Prior to that court appearance both women, at the request of their lawyers, will undergo a psychiatric examination to determine their fitness to stand trial.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Astrid Borgstedt.