Friday, July 8, 2011

Dad found guilty in death of 3-month-old son (Manassas, Virginia)

Dad HENRY L. MORALES tried the classic clumsy daddy excuse--but it didn't work.

http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/jul/07/father-guilty-baby-boys-death-ar-1158538/

Father guilty in baby boy's death
By Amanda Stewart
Published: July 07, 2011

MANASSAS, Va. --
After a judge postponed the trial of a man charged in the death of his 3-month-old son Tuesday because a witness did not appear, the witness arrived at the courthouse and the trial went on, court records show.

On Wednesday, a judge found Henry L. Morales, 26, guilty of felony murder in the death of his infant son, Dominic.

Morales was first charged with felony child abuse and aggravated malicious wounding after police responded to his house in the 10800 block of Daisy Court on Oct. 17 for reports of a baby not breathing.

He was later charged with felony murder, after the baby died of his injuries a few weeks later.

According to court documents, Morales told police that he tripped while carrying the baby down the steps and dropped him.

Morales was set to stand trial Tuesday, but after a witness, a former medical examiner, did not appear, a judge agreed to continue the trial to a later date and release Morales on his personal recognizance.

But, a few minutes later, the witness arrived, and the trial began.

Morales faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 25.

Morales, a citizen of Guatemala, is also being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer