An 8-year-old boy is being charged with beating a 1-year-old
girl to death while they were left home alone as their mothers went to a
nightclub, Alabama police said Tuesday.
Birmingham police spokesman Sean Edwards said the boy beat
and killed 1-year-old Kelci Lewis when she wouldn't stop crying. The mother of
the toddler, 26-year-old Katerra Lewis, also is charged with manslaughter for
her role in the death of her daughter.
"This is by far one of the saddest cases that I have
witnessed and been a part of since I became a police officer," Edwards
said. "This type of irresponsibility on behalf of a parent is totally
unacceptable," he said.
Police said a murder warrant has been obtained for the boy
who is now in the care of Alabama's child welfare agency, the Department of
Human Resources. His case will go through the family court system.
Edwards said the 8-year-old was the oldest of six children
left alone as their mothers, Katerra Lewis and a friend, went to a nightclub on
the night of Oct 11. The 8-year old is the son of Katerra Lewis' friend. The
friend has not been charged.
A 6-year-old who was in the home that night told police what
happened, Edwards said, and the information was consistent with the toddler's
injuries.
Kelci Lewis suffered severe head trauma and major damage to her internal organs, police said.
Edwards said the 8-year-old is the youngest murder defendant
he's ever been aware of in the Birmingham area.
"I believe the 8 year-old is going to require some
intense counseling for the next several years," Edwards said.
He said the mother's punishment is "something she has
to live with for the rest of her life."
Katerra Lewis has posted $15,000 bond.
Source: AP
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