Gould Faces Manslaughter Charge in Death of Son

In a brief court proceeding Monday morning, previous assault charges against Unique Gould were dropped and new charges brought by the state, including manslaughter, for the death of her 2-year-old son.

that caused "catastrophic brain injury" to her 2-year-old son on April 26. The boy was taken off life support May 10 and died at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to her uncle, Chris Smart.

The probable cause hearing on previous assault charges scheduled for May 13 became an arraignment on new charges, which include: one count manslaughter, three counts of second-degree assault and one count first degree assault, according to court paperwork.

Gould's public defender, Anthony Sculimbrene called it a "very sad case," and said after the arraignment that Gould maintains her innocence, and that they are "looking forward to litigating every aspect of this case."

Inside the courtroom Sculimbrene and Assistant County Attorney Karinne Brobst went back and forth about sealing supporting court documents in the case, which has been done.

Sculimbrene maintained that much of the information had already made available to the press, and sealing documents at this point was moot.

Sculimbrene also asked that Gould be released on personal recognizance bail so she could live with her grandmother, and told the judge that she was not a flight risk and did not pose a danger to others or herself, and added that she had in fact called 911 to summon help for the boy.

Brobst countered that the court should consider that there was a nearly 20-hour lapse between the time Gould put her son to bed, following the alleged assault, and realizing he was injured and unconscious. Brobst said the alleged assault occurred at about 7:30 p.m. and was left in bed until 2 p.m. the following day.

Brobst told the court that Gould only called 911 because others, including family members, told her if she didn't call 911 they would, adding that Gould had attempted to rouse the boy by putting him in the shower and shaking him.

Just Thomas Bamberger said he would take the information brought for by both attorneys under advisement prior to Gould's next court date, a probable cause hearing set for May 23.

During the arraignment Sculimbrene told the court that he had known Gould "for a while" and had represented her previously. A records check at the Hillsborough County Courthouse produced two previous incidents under Gould's name, two tobacco charges out of Milford in 2004, and a false report to police charge in 2009, which was dismissed with a requirement for mental health counseling.