A Kansas woman who used a hair dryer to warm up her infant daughter on a frigid February night is on trial for second-degree murder in the baby’s death.

A lawyer for 20-year-old Brigit Hippen told jurors in Reno County District Court on Wednesday that the death of 3-month-old Karina Perez was a tragic accident. The Hutchinson News reports that prosecutors contend Hippen acted recklessly by running the dryer near the baby’s bassinet and then falling asleep.

Karina was pronounced dead at a hospital the morning of Feb. 23, 2010. Doctors have said she had a body temperature of 108 degrees.

In opening statements Wednesday, the prosecution said Hippen placed the diaper-clad baby in a bassinet and aimed the hair dryer at her from a nearby counter, then went to sleep for three hours.