MYOR
08-31-2007, 08:44 AM
http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/__files/2007/08/medium_xbabyM.jpghttp://img.iht.com/images/dot_h.gif
A 9-year-old boy was charged in the death of an 11-month-old baby who was fatally beaten at a day care center. Authorities also charged the center's owner with putting the infant in harm's way.
Authorities said the older boy repeatedly hit Tahir Francis in the head a week ago, causing skull fractures. Tahir was taken to a hospital and died about six hours later while undergoing surgery.
"I want to know what kind of home the 9-year-old comes from," Tafawah Francis, the baby's father, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "He doesn't understand, you can't do these things to a baby."
The child was buried on Wednesday, Francis said.
The Jamaican-born Francis said that while he does not blame the center's owner, Beverly Bryant, 64, for his son's death, he does think she tried to cover up what happened.
<!-- sidebar --><!-- today in links -->"I found out about the bleeding in my son's brain, and I asked her what happened and she wouldn't tell me," Francis said. "She knew and she tried to cover it up."
He said Bryant, who operated the licensed day care center out of her basement in central New Jersey, called him at work to say his son was being rushed to the hospital with head injuries. After that, Francis said, Bryant would say nothing.
Bryant has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and was ordered to close the center. Her lawyer, Christian Fleming, said she pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
The 9-year-old has been charged with the juvenile equivalent of aggravated manslaughter and has been released on house arrest to his parents.
The only question I have is HOW LONG was this kid alone with the 11month old that after the first hit the care taker didnt stop him??
A 9-year-old boy was charged in the death of an 11-month-old baby who was fatally beaten at a day care center. Authorities also charged the center's owner with putting the infant in harm's way.
Authorities said the older boy repeatedly hit Tahir Francis in the head a week ago, causing skull fractures. Tahir was taken to a hospital and died about six hours later while undergoing surgery.
"I want to know what kind of home the 9-year-old comes from," Tafawah Francis, the baby's father, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "He doesn't understand, you can't do these things to a baby."
The child was buried on Wednesday, Francis said.
The Jamaican-born Francis said that while he does not blame the center's owner, Beverly Bryant, 64, for his son's death, he does think she tried to cover up what happened.
<!-- sidebar --><!-- today in links -->"I found out about the bleeding in my son's brain, and I asked her what happened and she wouldn't tell me," Francis said. "She knew and she tried to cover it up."
He said Bryant, who operated the licensed day care center out of her basement in central New Jersey, called him at work to say his son was being rushed to the hospital with head injuries. After that, Francis said, Bryant would say nothing.
Bryant has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and was ordered to close the center. Her lawyer, Christian Fleming, said she pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
The 9-year-old has been charged with the juvenile equivalent of aggravated manslaughter and has been released on house arrest to his parents.
The only question I have is HOW LONG was this kid alone with the 11month old that after the first hit the care taker didnt stop him??