Boyfriend found guilty in death of toddler
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A 23-year-old man has been found guilty in Ramsey County of failing to get help for his girlfriend’s dying two-year-old son.
A jury Thursday night determined Demetrius Willis was not guilty of unintentional second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, but convicted him on a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter while committing child neglect.
Julian James-Robert Williams died in September 2009 after suffering internal injuries. The child’s mother, Jessica Caldwell, is also charged in the boy’s death and will go on trial Oct. 10.
The Star Tribune reports Willis’ attorney, Lisa Hallberg, argued her client didn’t know the boy was dying and when he realized the child was seriously injured he tried to get help.
