Rainbow Hill testifies at Whalen’s trial

(Content may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised).

The Fort Erie woman who got a life sentence for her part in the 2011 death of a toddler was back on the stand in a Hamilton courtroom Wednesday, testifying against the toddler’s mother, who is now standing trial for the same murder.

Rainbow Hill pleaded guilty to second degree murder last year. In 2011 she was living with Roseanne Whalen and Whalen’s two-year-old Marissa. She says she abused Marissa every day, beating her so badly that they often couldn’t take the toddler out in public. But she says Roseanne Whalen was right beside her every time, and did nothing to stop the abuse.

Roseanne Whalen was weeks from giving birth when she first met Rainbow Hill. And a month after Marissa was born, they became a turbulent romantic couple. Hill says she kept breaking up with Whalen, but Whalen would contact her constantly, saying, you’re all the baby knows, you’ve been there since day one. I can’t do this alone.

“I’d feel guilt and I’d go back,” Hill said to the court.

When Marissa woke up on July 29, 2011, she had a soiled or wet diaper, and that made Rainbow Hill angry. She kicked the girl to the floor, before taking her to the bathroom to wash. She says she accidentally dropped the baby in the tub, and she was unconscious when she picked her up. Hill’s stepfather eventually called 911, but hill made him hang up.

Rainbow Hill: “We said we couldn’t have the ambulance come with the child looking the way she did.”

Marissa Whalen was often so bruised her mother complained in texts she couldn’t take her anywhere. But no one was sure if Marissa was still alive when paramedics arrived; they were sent away with a lie.

Three months later Roseanne Whalen went to police, and then wore a wire to meet Rainbow Hill, while police watched.

Just tell me the truth. I just want my baby, I don’t know how to explain I’m sorry for real. I have to deal with people still asking for her.

Today in cross examination Geoffery Hadfield spent a lot of time going over the text messages between Hill and Whalen, and seemed to suggest Rainbow Hill was very controlling, and kept Roseanne from spending time or buying things for her daughter.