NEW YORK, NY February 26, 2008 —REPORTER: According to the Medical Examiner's report, she died from a combination of regular beatings and head trauma.

Dr. Charles Wetli, a forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner for Suffolk County, disputed that.

Wetli was called to the stand by defense attorney Jeffrey Schwartz, who says the doctor's testimony helps prove his clients' case.

SCHWARTZ: I think it's absolutely clear at this point that it was the subdural hematoma that was inflicted by the mother that caused the death and that all the other stuff in the pictures that the D.A. had been waving around the entire trial had nothing to do with the child's death.

REPORTER: Schwartz has acknowledged that Rodriguez regularly tied Nixzmary up and used his fists to beat her, but maintains that's not what killed her.

Nixzaliz Santiago, the child's mother, also faces murder charges.

Wetli also testified that Nixzmary showed no signs of being malnourished or starved although he acknowledged at 36 pounds she was under weight.