By Sadef Ali Kully
The city medical examiner determined that the story of a New Jersey man, charged Nov. 24 with the death of his girlfriend’s 4-month old son in Rochdale Village, was inconsistent with the injuries, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Jhalil Williams, 29, from Orange, N.J., was arraigned Nov. 24 before Queens Criminal Court Judge Bruna Dibiase on charges of murder and assault in the death of his Rochdale resident girlfriend’s son in January, according to the Queens DA.
“This is a truly horrific and disturbing case where a helpless 4-month-old infant was left in the care of the defendant who was the mother’s boyfriend. The alleged actions of the defendant are totally incomprehensible. He now faces serious charges that could lead to his spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The investigation, conducted by detectives from the 113th Precinct Detective Squad and the Queens South Homicide Squad, contended Williams had inflicted abusive head trauma on the infant, according to the criminal complaint. abusive head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome. refers to any deliberately inflicted injury to the head,. The injuries seen in infants and toddlers with abusive head trauma may include bleeding over the surface of the brain and other brain-related injuries, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The criminal complaint said Williams was solely responsible for the care of his girlfriend’s 4-month-old son, Javion Durett, at her Jamaica home, Sometime between 10 p.m. Jan. 24 and 3 a.m Jan. 25, he is accused of injuring the baby’s head, which , caused his death, Queens DA said.
Williams told police detectives the baby was coughing and he did pick him up to help. Later, he saw the baby was unconscious and tried CPR before calling the police.
In the complaint, the city medical examiner’s report said the autopsy revealed the baby had numerous head trauma-related injuries, which were inconsistent with Williams’s story.
Police arrested Williams Nov. 23 almost one year after the death of the baby, police said.
According to the January police report, NYPD officers found Javion unconscious and unresponsive at 3 a.m. at the girlfriend’s home near 144th Road in Rochdale. Emergency responders took the baby to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Dibiase held Williams without bail and ordered him to return to court Friday. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
Reach Reporter Sadef Ali Kully by e-mail at skull
