Dad admits to beating two children, causing severe brain damage; 6 years ago, he beat another son severely (Norfolk, Virginia)

I'm just going to say it plain: dad WALTER Z. SPELLER is useless scum.

Six year ago, he shook or hit his 14-month-old son so violently that the boy ended up with brain damage and in a wheel chair.

More recently, this piece of human trash beat his 8-month-old son so viciously that the boy is paralyzed on one side, and can't walk or talk. And his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter was so badly bruised from Speller's beating that the emergency room people could find no part of her body that wasn't bruised. Both children suffered severe brain damage.

Dad now faces a maximum of 21 years in prison. Too bad he wasn't taken out of civilized society 6 years ago.

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/norfolk-man-admits-beating-2-children

Norfolk man admits to beating 2 children
Walter Z. Speller III beat or shook his infant son so violently he is paralyzed. He also beat his girlfriend’s daughter. Both suffered severe brain damage.

By Michelle Washington
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 17, 2009
NORFOLK

Six years ago, a Virginia Beach jury convicted Walter Z. Speller III of child abuse for shaking or hitting his 14-month-old son so violently he caused brain damage and put the boy in a wheelchair.

On Wednesday, Speller pleaded guilty in Norfolk to two counts of aggravated malicious wounding of two other children. Prosecutor Krista Fulton said Speller beat his 8-month-old son so violently the boy is now paralyzed on one side and beat the 3 -year-old daughter of his girlfriend with his hands and a belt so often that emergency-room workers could find no place on her body that was free of bruises. Both children suffered severe brain damage, Fulton said.

Speller, 29, faces a maximum of 21 years under the terms of his plea agreement. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November. A jury heard evidence against him, but he pleaded guilty before they began to consider a verdict.

Fulton said the boy, now 2, cannot walk or talk. The girl is now 6. Both children are in foster care, she said.

Speller was sentenced to two years for his 20 03 conviction in Virginia Beach. The victim in that case, Speller's son, was on life support when admitted to the hospital in December 2002, court documents show.

He offered police several explanations for the boy's condition, according to court documents. He said the child's brain might have been shaken as he ran up the street with him to find a ride to the hospital, or when he nudged the boy to wake him.

Pilot writer Shawn Day contributed to this report.