Dad charged with manslaughter in death of 3-month-old son (Syracuse, New York)

Dad is identified as FELIPE LEBRON. We've posted on this case before.

http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/08/syracuse_dad_accused_of_killing_3-month-old_son_i_just_totally_lost_control.html

Syracuse dad accused of killing 3-month-old son: 'I just totally lost control'

By Douglass Dowty on August 07, 2015 at 1:46 PM, updated August 07, 2015 at 3:05 PM

Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man accused of killing his 3-month-old boy admitted to police he shook the baby after losing control.

Felipe Lebron, 26, tried to revive his unconscious child before calling 911, he said in a statement. Lebron was charged with manslaughter in Anthony Lebron's death in January.

"l lost control and I know I (screwed) up," Lebron wrote in his statement. "I need to work on my patience and my control."

Lebron said he was uncomfortable and irritated when he picked the baby up and "whipped" his head hard. The baby suffered whiplash, he said.

Lebron then tried to provide aid to his son before calling 911. The father was originally charged with reckless assault of a child before Anthony died a week later. The baby's injuries included bleeding in the brain, pointing to a "shaken baby" death.

But Lebron's lawyer, Ed Klein, suggested that Lebron's admission might not hold up in court. Klein questioned whether Lebron was forced into providing his statement by police, who said he wasn't free to leave an interrogation room.

Lebron was emotional and pleaded to see his son. Detective Clark Farry told Lebron what was most important was getting him back to his family and getting information for doctors.

Farry acknowledged he strategically tried to reassure Lebron about his child's condition so he could get a statement from him about what happened.

Lebron agreed to waive his Constitutional rights and speak to Farry. At the end of a two-hour interview, Lebron signed the statement about what happened.

But Klein argued that Lebron was improperly forced into the interrogation by an officer driving him to police headquarters from the hospital, where his son was taken.

That officer was not available for questioning in court today. The hearing was delayed until Aug. 26.

After the hearing concludes, County Court Judge Anthony Aloi will decide if Lebron's confession can be used against him at trial.