A Brooklyn mother accused of starving, drugging and beating her 4-year-old daughter to death says she never harmed the child.

Carlotta Brett-Pierce acknowledged at her trial Monday that the
girl "had lost weight," but said she "didn't look bad."

Brett-Pierce and her mother, Loretta Brett, are charged with
murder in the death of Marchella in September of 2010. She weighed half what a child her age should, and had bruises and cuts on her body.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty and say they were doing
the best they could.

The outcome of the murder trial may have repercussions for the
child welfare workers once assigned to the family. They were
charged with criminally negligent homicide and have also pleaded
not guilty.