Dad charged with 3rd-degree murder for death of 2-month-old daughter (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania)

So we have a daddy who has beat up the mom before, and seems to have problems telling the truth. And it's only 3rd-degree murder when Dad "allegedly" bashed the baby's head (resulting in multiple skull fractuers), crushed her ribs, and pinched her nose to keep her from breathing?

Dad is identified as EDWARD J. DOYLE.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/hamptons/rd-degree-murder-charge-stands-against-father-of-dead-upper/article_e916e24e-6f29-52af-bf47-d57c7aa2dcdb.html

3rd-degree murder charge stands against father of dead Upper Moreland baby

Posted: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 12:00 pm | Updated: 3:42 pm, Tue Jun 4, 2013.
by Matt Coughlin Staff Writer

An Upper Moreland man told police three different stories about the night his 2-month-old daughter died, but none matched the injuries she suffered, according to authorities.

Police said they documented those stories, which were presented as evidence Tuesday during the preliminary hearing for Edward J. Doyle, 29, of the 2500 block of Horsham Road. He's charged with third-degree murder in the child's death.

The prosecution’s case was brief, summarized by a copy of Makayla Doyle’s death certificate and the statement Doyle gave to police the day she died. On the death certificate, forensic pathologist Isidore Mihalakis ruled that Makayla died of multiple traumatic injuries and that the manner of her death was homicide.

Defense attorney Robert Hoopes argued that the third-degree murder charge shouldn’t apply to his client because there was no clear indication that Doyle was aware his behavior could result in Makayla’s death.

District Judge Paul Leo, however, held the murder charge along with charges of recklessly endangering another person and making an unsworn falsification to authorities, moving the case to Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. A formal arraignment is scheduled for July 17.

Doyle’s statement, which changed three times over a six-hour period Feb. 24, was given to detectives hours after Makayla’s death when he and his father went to the Upper Moreland police station, Montgomery County Detective Paul Bradbury has said. In all three versions, Doyle said he’d gone out drinking to celebrate a friend’s birthday and that, after returning home, his wife went down to a neighbors apartment to get a movie while he went to sleep on his couch, according to a copy of the statement given to the court.

In the first statement, Doyle said he woke that Sunday morning to find Makayla looking “white as a ghost” and “limp,” and called 911. According to the second statement, Doyle said he accidentally struck the back of Makayla’s head while patting her back because he was distracted by something his wife said. And in the third statement, Doyle said he tripped and fell on the child while holding her. Doyle told investigators he weighed 275 pounds at the time.

Makayla’s ribs were crushed, according to court records. Mihalakis told police that none of the injuries were consistent with Doyle’s videotaped reenactment of events and said that in addition to crushed ribs, Makayla had multiple skull fractures. And evidence showed her nose was pinched to prevent her breathing, prosecutors have said.

Doyle has previously pleaded guilty to reduced charges of harassment and disorderly conduct after police investigated a report from Doyle’s wife that he choked her and threw her to the ground. He is being held in Montgomery County prison without bail.