Defense Seeks to Supress Statements of Montco Man Accused of Killing Infant Son
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Defense attorneys for a Montgomery County man accused of killing his infant son last June in Towamencin Township want the statements he made to police thrown out.
Attorneys for Jameel East are asking the judge to prohibit prosecutors from using two statements the 23-year-old man made to police.
One of the statements was given to police at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia while the three-month-old boy was being treated, the second was given at the police station after the child died.
Public defender Kathryn Taxis believes her client's rights were violated and he was under duress at the time.
"(We want to) make sure that any defendant that we represent or any individual we represent is afforded all the constitutional protections," she said after today's hearing, "and it's to flesh it out and make sure that things were done properly."
Prosecutors say East shook the child violently while babysitting, and his head struck a hard surface in the bathroom. They say it was those injuries that caused his death.
East is charged with third-degree murder and lying to police.
