A drug-addicted Connecticut man accused of brutally beating his 6-year-old stepson with a baseball bat was forced to wear a spit mask in court Thursday — as he learned he will now face trial in the boy’s tragic murder. He faces life in prison without parole.
Abdulrahim Suleiman, 38, who has spat at court officers in the past, has now been charged with murder and manslaughter under special circumstances – which carries a stiff prison sentence – in the September 25 assault that left his wife and her husband dead. The younger son was also seriously injured. injuries, The Connecticut Post reported,
“He’s a monster and he should be locked up for life,” Ana Escobar, the dead boy’s aunt, told the outlet outside the courthouse.
“We want to know why this happened, why my nephew was beaten to death,” said Jasmine Escobar, another aunt. “We also want answers from (the state Department of Children and Families).
“They knew there were problems at that house but they didn’t do anything, and we want to know why.”
According to authorities, Suleman, who is also facing attempted murder and assault charges, lashed out at his family with a baseball bat in his hand after drinking angel dust.
All three victims were seriously injured, but Jathan Escobar’s wounds were so severe that brain matter was visible on his bloodied head when police arrived.
The young man clung to life for a week before dyingAccording to the police.
Suleman was previously charged with three counts of attempted murder and gun possession.
In Bridgeport Judicial District Court on Thursday, Suleiman stood before a judge in handcuffs and wearing a beige gown — a spit mask covering his entire head.
Despite his assurances that he would behave, the authorities took no chances given his past anger.
“Don’t worry,” the accused killer told Judge Tracy Lee Dayton. “I will not misbehave.”
The charge of murder under special circumstances was created after the state abolished the death penalty. It carries a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to the Connecticut Post, Bridgeport police responded to the family’s home after receiving multiple 911 calls about a man committing a “severe assault” on a woman and her children.
As soon as the police arrived, Suleman allegedly jumped from the window and landed in a dustbin.
A policeman said the accused killer was seen at the scene, muttering with blood dripping from his arms and hands, when a neighbor pointed the finger at him and called out the officer.
“He’s the one,” he said. “Don’t let him get away.”
Detectives later interviewed his victim’s wife at St. Vincent Medical Center and told her that Suleiman had been smoking angel dust, threatened the family with a gun and beat them with a bat.
Police later found a .22-caliber handgun inside the apartment.
The case has raised questions about the state’s Child Care Services Agency, which acknowledged last week that the agency had “communicated” with the family about two months ago, the outlet reports.
In a statement, DCF Commissioner Jodi Hill-Lilly called the incident “shocking and horrifying.”
However, Jathan’s family is still demanding answers.
“I just feel like someone failed this family and it could have been prevented,” Anna Escobar said.
The Connecticut State Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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