YV man faces his second murder trial | desert path

JOSHUA TREE – The second trial of a man charged with murder in the death of a 17-month-old Yucca Valley boy is scheduled to begin next month.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Oct. 7 in Judge Christopher Pallone's Joshua Tree courtroom. He is charged with murder and battery on a child for the February 2018 death of Parker Schumacher.

Davies, wearing a green prison uniform and with his hands cuffed, appeared at a preliminary hearing in Pallone's court on September 25.

Pallone discussed the trial with Davies' attorney Zulu Ali and the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Charles Tsuei.

The hearing included a discussion about what evidence Pallone would allow in the new trial, with Pallone stating he would not allow “evidence of third-party guilt.”

Ali said he wanted to bring up Parker's history and any pre-existing conditions he may have suffered, including a fall from a couch days before he was admitted to Loma Linda University Medical Center with traumatic head injuries.

“I'm having trouble figuring out how third-party guilt might be relevant,” Pallone said.

“I ask that I may ask the questions,” Ali replied. “It’s also about the question of credibility with mom.”

“First of all, it still has to be relevant,” Pallone told the attorney.

In Davies' first trial, which ended in September 2023, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. The jury found Davies not guilty of first-degree murder. However, they disagreed over verdicts for second-degree murder and assault, resulting in a mistrial.

Davies, who was dating Parker's mother, was home alone with Parker on February 10, 2018, when Parker suffered head trauma. The toddler died the next day at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Davies was charged with murder and assault on a child resulting in death.

Tsuei and his experts, a medical examiner from the medical examiner's department and a consultant pathologist, said his injuries showed he was intentionally injured. Tsuei argued that Davies shook Parker and threw him against a hard surface.

Ali told the jury that Parker fell from Davies' arms in an accident and hit the linoleum floor.

Tsuei argued that Davies shook Parker and then hit his head against a hard surface.

His second trial will be held Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The court will be out of session October 14-17, October 21 and Election Day on November 5.

Tsuei said he does not expect the trial to continue beyond October.