Ohioan accused of killing baby daughter pleads not guilty

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio man accused of slamming his 3-month-old daughter to the floor the day before she died has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder.

A Hamilton County prosecutor’s spokeswoman says 35-year-old James Phillips on Thursday also pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, felonious assault and child endangering. The suburban Cincinnati man could be sentenced to death if convicted of all the charges.

Authorities say Mount Healthy police responded Oct. 17 to a 911 call about a baby in distress and found Phillips at the home with the injured baby and his other two children.

Jasmine Phillips was hospitalized and died the next day. Prosecutor Joe Deters says the coroner ruled she died from blunt force trauma.