Cirella Case Returns to Court Thursday

The Plainview woman accused of poisoning her 8-year-old daughter is due in court this week, her first appearance since being indicted by a grand jury on murder charges.

's lawyer is expected to meet in a routine conference on Thursday to discuss the case with Nassau County prosecutor. Such meetings are routine, and no plea deal or other development is expected, said Chris Munzing, a spokesman for the Nassau County District Attorney's office.

Munzing said he could comment no further on the case as it is pending before the court of Judge David P. Sullivan.

A Nassau County Grand Jury indicted Cirella on murder charges in April, alleging she intentionally fed her daughter Julie food she was allergic to on the day she was to serve as a flower girl, authorities said

Cirella, 31, of Shelly Court, Plainview, was indicted on second-degree murder charges. Cirella appeared in court in Mineola on the charges and has been held without bail since.

Cirella was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of her daughter, who was found on the floor of their home on July 23, 2011.

Cirella after her lawyer, , successfully argued that Nassau prosecutors did not indict her or present the case to a judge within the legal time limit. The legal maneuver earned Veronica her temporary freedom on Sept. 7.

Prosecutors said Veronica poisoned the disabled girl by giving her peanut-laced food she was allergic to. Both Keahon and Veronica's legal aid attorney denied the charges. Keahon has said the results of the autopsy were inconclusive and no peanut product's were found in the victim's system. He has declined repeated requests for interviews since.

The child's grandmother, Doloros Cirella, discovered Julie's body and Veronica alive nearby, a cord wrapped around Veronica's neck, and prosecutors said a suicide note of sorts was found. It read: “her daughter should die.”

Julie, who had cerebral palsy, was to be a flower girl in her cousin’s wedding on the day her body was found. Police said the girl’s wheelchair, decorated for the wedding, was found nearby.