Hearing For 'The Quadrangle Trio' Postponed

Thursday's hearing for the three women accused of repeatedly assaulting 78-year-old Lois McCallister was postponed to June 16, due to one of the co-defendants failure to secure counsel.

In a room filled with friends and family of the victim, as well as a sizable contingent in support of the defendants, Judge Elisa Lacianca asked to approach the bench, in an effort to discern why the defendant arrived without an attorney.

"I can't believe you would come in today without having someone beside you," said Lacianca. 

Muhammad, who does not qualify for a public defender, explained that she did not know how to hire a lawyer.

"When you were arraigned, you received all the information you needed.  When someone posts bail for you, it's with the understanding that you should appear and be prepared for court," replied Lacianca.

After a few minutes of arguing, Lacianca decided to raise the defendant's bail by $1,500, and had her placed into custody.  Muhammed began weeping, as she pleaded with the judge to reconsider.

"I can't do this again.  Please ... please ... I can't do this again," said Muhammad, whose cries became louder and louder. 

She was placed in another room for processing, and while exiting, her friend let out an audible laugh, then said, "I can't believe she was crying like that."

After the case had been continued, Muhammad was hysterically crying and screaming in a detainment room, located in the hallway on the way to the exit of the Havertown court.

"I don't want to go to jail.  I didn't do anything," screamed Muhammad.  "I don't want to go through this again."

After a short period, Muhammad's grandfather, who refused to give his name to the media, arrived to post the additional bail.  Meanwhile, the other two defendants, and , quietly left.

The three defendants are charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, criminal conspiracy, neglect of care-dependent person, recklessly endangering another person and harassment, in regards to the alleged abuse that Lois McCallister suffered while being a resident at the Quadrangle nursing facility in Haverford.

The victim's son-in-law, , installed a secret camera disguised as a clock, after his attempts to inform the facility of the alleged on-going abuse had failed.  All three women were identified on the recording, and have since been terminated from their employment. Video of one of the alleged abuse can be .

After an investigation by the Department of Public Welfare, Quadrangle's operating license has since been revoked, though Sunrise CEO Mark Ordan informed the Haverford-Havertown Patch that the company was planning to appeal in a .

As Muhammad waited for the arrival of her grandfather, media and friends of the victim stationed themselves outside, in an effort to speak with the defendant on the way to her grandfather's car.

One friend, Patti Harnwell of Havertown, said she just wanted to support the French family.

"Mrs. McCallister has been like a second grandmother to my girls, and my kids were devastated when they heard the news.  Anything we can do to show support for the family, we're going to do." said Harnwell.

When asked for her thoughts on Muhammad arriving to court without an attorney, Harnwell did not hold back.

"I think she was just thumbing her nose at the court system.  I don't think she has any regard for the court or the law," said Harnwell.  "I appreciate that the judge took swift action in raising her bail.  That was justly deserved, because she has no regard for the system."

Regarding the friends of the defendant laughing at her while she begged and cried, Harnwell stated that it was expected, and deserved.

"They don't respect her either, and those types of people get her into these types of situations.  She's young, she has no respect for other people, and clearly her friends don't respect her.  You get what you give," said Harnwell.

Roughly an hour after the court session had ended, Muhammad and her grandfather appeared from the courthouse as they made their way to the parking lot.  The defendant kept her head down at all times, while two separate women question and heckled her.

Once in the vehicle, the grandfather stopped for a brief interview.

"I'm concerned for the other (French) family," said the grandfather.  "Whatever happens with this situation, I believe it will come out the way God says so."

After the car left the parking lot, one of the women, who wished to be referred to as "a concerned mom with elderly parents," questioned if people really know who elderly caregivers are.

"As a mom, we trust our kids to caregivers all the time.  It's the same for the elderly.  Do we really know who they are?" said the woman.