Dad sentenced to 8 years for breaking baby daughter's limbs
A Connecticut man convicted of breaking his 4-month-old daughter's arms,
legs and ribs was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday June
24th, and ordered to take anger management classes and undergo a
complete mental evaluation.
"You are either evil and a monster or very, very ill,” the trial judge
Maria Kahn told the man, Morice Wilkerson, 26, during a hearing in
Superior Court in Bridgeport. Wilkerson broke down in tears as he was
removed from the courtroom, and relatives also wailed and sobbed.
Before he was sentenced, Wilkerson pleaded with the judge for leniency, saying "I love my family and I would never do anything to hurt them."
The girl is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families and will be adopted.
Source: Reuters
Wilkerson was convicted last month of third degree assault & risk of
injury to a minor, after bringing the infant to a hospital in 2012 with
all four limbs and two ribs broken.
He and his wife, Stephanie Kearney, had attempted to explain their
daughter's multiple injuries by saying they were the results of various
accidents, like rolling over while asleep, and genetic fragility.
Kearney, 25, was found not guilty of any crimes.Before he was sentenced, Wilkerson pleaded with the judge for leniency, saying "I love my family and I would never do anything to hurt them."
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Margaret Kelley urged a significant
sentence, arguing the girl's injuries could cause a crooked leg and
stunted growth.
"This is one of the most troubling cases the state has ever prosecuted
because of the severity of the injuries to such a young child," Kelley
told the judge.
The judge sentenced Wilkerson to 10 years, with two years suspended.
The girl is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families and will be adopted.
Source: Reuters
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