BLOOMINGTON - The reactions of Amanda Hamm and Maurice LaGrone Jr. to the drowning of Hamm's three children was a major focus of testimony Wednesday in the triple-murder trial.

LaGrone, 30, and former girlfriend, Amanda Hamm, 29, are each charged with nine counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Hamm's three children in Clinton Lake in September 2003. Christopher Hamm, 6, Austin Brown, 3, and Kyleigh Hamm, 23 months, were in the back seat of Hamm's car when it submerged in the lake.

Prosecutors contend Hamm and LaGrone conspired to kill the children, who were roadblocks to a scheduled move to St. Louis. The defense maintains that the car went into the lake accidentally after a prank by LaGrone to scare the youngsters went terribly wrong.

Emergency medical technician Cassandra McFall said she saw Hamm and LaGrone near the lake as she arrived at the west side access area shortly before 8 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2003.

LaGrone was smiling as he stood behind Hamm and said, "calm down, baby. I love you," according to McFall.

The medical technician who now works as a security officer at the Clinton Power Station said she was handed Christopher Hamm by a rescue worker who pulled the child from the car.

"I did CPR as best as I could with him in my arms," McFall said.

Hamm was described by McFall as screaming hysterically.

"She was incoherent most of the time. She said, 'I want my babies,' " McFall said.

McFall became emotional during her testimony when she recalled doctors pronouncing Christopher dead at Dr. John Warner Hospital in Clinton. She said she went outside to take a break from the emergency room tragedy. McFall said she observed Hamm outside the hospital.

"She was showing very little emotion. She was not upset until a friend or family member paid attention to her, then she lost all control. When the attention stopped or the person left, she stopped crying," said McFall.

Outside the courtroom, defense attorney Jeff Justice called McFall's testimony biased.

"She's made a decision as to who's at fault," he said.

Christopher and Austin died at the Clinton hospital, and Kyleigh was transported to a Peoria hospital, where she died the next day.

A Clinton man who saw the couple shortly after Kyleigh's death recounted comments made by LaGrone.

In response to questions about funeral plans for the children, LaGrone allegedly said, "After the funeral, we're going to St. Louis and put this (expletive) behind us," said Joshua McGhee, 21.

The three Clinton physicians who treated the Hamm children in the emergency room and several nurses who assisted them offered details of their efforts to revive the children. They also were asked about the behavior of Hamm and LaGrone at the hospital.

Drs. Brit Williams and Tricia Scerba testified that they removed large amounts of water from the children through suction equipment as they worked for more than an hour on each child. Scerba said she was guardedly optimistic when she was able to obtain a heartbeat on Kyleigh, a development that resulted in the child's transfer to Peoria.

Dr. David Gill said Austin "showed no signs of life" when he was brought to the emergency room. The child's father, Craig Brown, wiped away tears in the courtroom as the details of his son's death were revealed.

Registered nurse Rani Staton told the jury about remarks she said Hamm made at the hospital after the two boys had died.

"She said she was planning to move to St. Louis with Maurice to go to school. Now she didn't know if she would be able to go or not," Staton said.

Defense attorneys questioned Staton about tranquilizers the nurse may have given Hamm around the time the statement was made. Staton said she may have given Hamm medication but could not remember specific details about it.

"It would have been surprising not to," Staton said.

Witnesses scheduled to take the stand today include two former federal inmates who allege that LaGrone talked to them about the case and several friends of Hamm who talked with her after the incident.

Special Prosecutor Ed Parkinson said Sheriff Roger Massey will testify Monday, and Hamm will be the final prosecution witness next week.

The trial will not be session on Friday.

Edith Brady-Lunny can be reached at eblunny@;mchsi.com.