Dad found guilty in beating death of 2-year-old son (Hamilton County, Ohio)

Dad is identified as ANTRONE SMITH.

http://www.local12.com/content/breaking_news/story/Dad-Guilty-of-Baby-Sons-Beating-Death/qV-LTZK9Zk-7CdwUZf3wkA.cspx

Dad Guilty of Baby Son's Beating Death

Published: 9:44 am Updated: 9:55 am

The jury convicts a Westwood father accused of killing his 2-year-old son.

Jurors deciding the case of Antrone Smith spent the night in a hotel-and delivered their decision around 9:30 a.m. In Hamilton County Court. They found him guilty of murder and felonious assault but not guilty of aggravated murder.

Both the defense and prosecution agree Smith delivered the blow that killed two-year-old Demarcus Jackson in October of 2011. But Smith's attorney says he did not mean to kill the boy, though the blow tore a hole in the boy's intestine, causing him to bleed to death. The prosecutor says scars and bruises covered Damarcus' body. Smith's attorney told jurors those injuries had nothing to do with Damarcus' death and Smith tried to save his son by calling 911 and performing CPR. Smith's attorney called the punch stupid and ignorant, but said Smith didn't mean to kill his toddler.

Among the witnesses in the trial was the foster mother who took care of Damarcus and his three brothers in the first two years of Damarcus' life. Damarcus and his siblings were returned to their biological parents shortly before Damarcus's death.

Damarcus' biological mother Latricia Jackson faces a child endangering charge. Smith's sentencing is set for April 9th.