Sentence delayed for custodial dad convicted of child abuse homicide (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Once again, the media has developed amnesia about the history of this case. Dad CLINTON JOSEPH HART managed to weasel his way out of a murder one rap, as everything was blamed on the gal pal. Funny, the public never buys that line when mom's boyfriend is accused of homicide. Why that bitch should have stopped that guy who weighed two hundred pounds, even though he was threatening to kill her too! Oh yes, mommies are all powerful, aren't they? But this guy couldn't keep his little ol' gal pal from beating this girl to death. Right.

We're also ignoring the fact that this guy has a classic abuser background--he stripped this girl's mother of custody by abducting the kids during a visitation and never returning them. See backstory here:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/06/family-wants-death-penalty-for.html

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52210806-78/hart-report-sentencing-child.html.csp

Error in report delays child homicide sentencing
By aaron falk

The Salt Lake Tribune

First published 3 hours ago
Updated 3 hours ago Updated Jul 18, 2011 09:45AM

Holding a photograph of her slain great-granddaughter, Linda Romero said the case against the girl’s father had gone on too long.

But the sentencing for Clinton Joseph Hart, 22, of Kearns, was postponed Monday because of problems with his pre-sentence report.

“The state has engaged in sentencing by ambush,” defense attorney Steven Shapiro told 3rd District Judge Robert Faust.

Hart’s report claimed he was “responsible for the infliction of injuries” against his 4-year-old daughter, who died in June 2010. In pleading guilty last month to a reduced charge of child abuse homicide, Hart “bears certainly some responsibility for what happened” for not protecting his daughter, Shapiro said, but did not cause her injuries.

Hart was at work when police say his live-in girlfriend, Marina Navarro, delivered the fatal beating. But prosecutors have alleged Hart knew of the abuse and tried to cover it up.

Navarro, 22, called police on the morning of June 13, 2010, after Vanessa suffered fatal head and abdominal injuries, police said.

Navarro pleaded guilty last month to first-degree felony murder as part of a plea agreement that eliminated a potential death penalty.

From the beginning, Hart was “overcharged,” Shapiro said. Hart is now scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8.

afalk@sltrib.com