Mom of slain baby disputes allegations

Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

A woman charged in the death of her infant daughter – who authorities say was killed by an 8-year-old boy – disputes allegations that she left the children home alone, her attorney said Wednesday.

Police say Katerra Marsha Lewis, 26, and a friend left the 8-year-old boy to watch over five younger children while the women went to a nightclub.

The boy beat Kelci Lewis to death last month when she wouldn’t stop crying and placed her back in her crib as if she were asleep, police said.

The boy was charged with murder in juvenile court and placed into the custody of child welfare workers, Birmingham Police spokesman Sean Edwards said. The infant’s mother faces a manslaughter charge.

Legal experts say the case will be challenging on several fronts because of the boy’s age.

University of Alabama associate law professor Jenny Carroll said in many jurisdictions, children under age 10 or 12 are presumed not to have the capacity to form criminal intent and have difficulty understanding court proceedings.

Alabama is one of about three dozen states that have no minimum age for children to be prosecuted in juvenile court, according to Marsha Levick, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center.