Monday, February 20, 2012

Dad convicted of 2nd-degree murder of 3-month-old son; still defended as "excellent" father (St. Peter, Minnesota)

An "excellent" father violently shakes a baby for crying, then bites him for good measure? Just what do you have to do to merely be a "good" father? Mow down a couple of kids with an automatic? Just how low is the bar set for decent fatherhood these days?

Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER FARRIS.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/962423/391/MN-man-sentenced-to-15-years-in-infant-sons-death

MN man sentenced to 15 years in infant son's death
7:46 AM, Feb 16, 2012
Written by The Associated Press
ST. PETER, Minn. - A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for causing injuries that killed his infant son.

Twenty-nine-year-old Christopher Farris had earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the September 2010 death of the baby.

Dawson Farris had injuries to his head and body when his father brought him to the hospital. Investigators later learned Farris had violently shaken the boy and bit him on the cheek when he wouldn't stop crying, causing the injuries that resulted in the child's death.

The Mankato Free Press says Farris could be placed on supervised release after serving 10 years in prison.

Keisha Moniz, 3-month-old Dawson's mother, testified in a pre-sentence hearing, painting Farris as an often-drunk, aggressive man who was not a good father.
Brad Peyton, Farris' attorney, offered a Powerpoint presentation that featured audio from Farris' parents talking about their son, and words from a woman who is the mother of two other children of Farris' (he also had two with Moniz) who called Farris an excellent father and urged Westphall to minimize the amount of time he is away from his other children.