"Primary caretaker" dad convicted of 1st-degree murder in death of 1-month-old daughter (Leon County, Florida)

"Primary caretaker" dad DARREN BINES has been convicted of 1st-degree murder in the brutal death of his 1-month-old daughter. Mom worked long hours to support dad's lazy @$$, while this "hands-on" dad was home for 12 hours a day with the baby. He didn't even get through the first month without abusing her and finally killing her. Just couldn't take the crying, you know. F***er.

How many mothers would LOVE the privilege of staying home with the baby, but can't because they have to work? Or there's no food or shelter?

Fact is, most "stay-at-home" fathers (read: unemployable/unemployed sponges who don't do housework anyway 'cause that's "women's work") don't appreciate the opportunity in the slightest. For all the devoted "stay-at-home" dads who are lavishly featured in all the newspapers and magazines, there must be a dozen or more who are just like Bines. Worthless deadbeats who can't or won't get a job.

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100409/NEWS0102/4090330

Father convicted of infant's murder
By David Sáez • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • April 9, 2010

As Leon Circuit Court Judge Angela Dempsey began reading the sentence, all that could be heard were Myesha McBride's labored breaths and restrained sobs.

The 20-year-old mother of Tameha Bines cried as Dempsey sentenced Darren Bines to a mandatory life sentence for the murder of their 1-month-old daughter on Feb. 14, 2008. The sentence included no chance for parole.

After nearly two hours of deliberations on Thursday at the Leon County Courthouse, a six-person jury found Bines guilty of first-degree murder and guilty of aggravated child abuse, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in state prison.

"Ever since this happened, I've seen other mothers holding their children and I think about how I don't have that," McBride said as part of her victim-impact statement.

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Though she faced the judge, McBride was addressing Bines. To add to the loss of her child, McBride said, it pained her to know that Bines never apologized for their daughter's death.

"At the end of the day, I do forgive you," McBride said. "But the least you could do is apologize."
The conclusion to two days of testimony ended with Bines, dressed in a long-sleeve maroon shirt and black pants, walking out of a Leon County courtroom in chains. He has 30 days to submit an appeal.

"I know (McBride's) suffered a loss that can never be made whole," prosecuting attorney Kathy Ray said.

"This is one of the most egregious cases of child abuse I've ever dealt with ...We can't bring that baby back, but at least some justice has been served."

Essentially, the jurors found that Bines caused the fatal injuries to Tameha's head and brain. A medical examiner explained how the two contusions to Tameha's head and the bleeding in the brain were indicative of child abuse. Dr. Lisa Flannagan said multiple blunt-force trauma to the head caused Tameha's death, which she ruled a homicide.

Bines was the person caring for Tameha that day. McBride was at work, as were both grandmothers, who were also occasional caretakers.

The defense had intended to put Bines on the stand, but, once time came, Bines chose not to. Defense attorney Gregory Cummings had no other witnesses, so he presented no case.

In his closing argument, the court-appointed attorney said no evidence was presented clearly showing that Bines harmed his daughter, though the prosecution posed that Bines was a frustrated father who killed his daughter because he was trying to stop her from crying.

"We don't want you to speculate, as Ms. Ray has done," Cummings said. "She has her theory. But she wasn't there, and I wasn't there."

Cummings contested the idea that Tameha's leg and ribs were broken the days before her death because witnesses said she showed no signs of pain or crying when she was being played with.
"You have to ask yourself the question: Does this really fit?" Cummings said.

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"This is a young man who was there for the birth. A young man who was there at least 12 hours a day with the child. He was cooperative enough that he gives his (apartment) keys to the police and says, 'I'm going to the hospital.' "

Cummings highlighted how witnesses, including Tameha's mother, insisted that Bines was always concerned about his daughter's well-being. He made sure people's hands were cleaned and sanitized. He'd respond at the slightest sneeze by Tameha.

"He was a hands-on father," Cummings said. "He was a father who appears to have been doing his share by taking care of that child."

When asked why he put forth no case, Cummings declined to comment about the rationale.
"This is my 26th first-degree murder trial so hopefully at this point I know what to do," Cummings said.

After the cramped court room gallery was nearly cleared out, Bines' mother questioned Cummings' approach.

Neither the Bines or McBride families wished to comment after the trial.