Judge Hears Testimony During Hearing For Man Charged With Body Slamming Boy

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The man accused in the death of his ex-girlfriend's young son after body slamming him for not cleaning his room quickly enough was in court Friday to face a judge.

The mother of the 8-year-old victim walked away from the courtroom upset and unwilling to talk about her ex-boyfriend who is accused in the murder of her son.

It happened back on June 20 after the suspect, Orlando Williams, the victim's mother, and her sons returned to their home in North Braddock from a day at Ohiopyle.

On the stand, a detective testified that Williams told investigators he tripped over a laundry basket in the 8-year-old's bedroom. He woke the boy up and then made him clean his room. But when the child moved too slowly, investigators say Williams picked him up and body slammed the boy on the bed.

According to the criminal complaint, Williams said his intention was to slam the victim on the middle of the bed, but he missed the middle of the bed and the victim then fell on the floor.

After the child hit the floor, he became unresponsive.

Williams' attorney says there was no malice as required in a homicide charge.

"We simply don't have that here. Accidents or negligence don't fall under that same culpability or standard," said defense attorney Anne Marie Mancuso. "I think the evidence presented today and the evidence that exists in this case very clearly demonstrates this was no intentional act. This was a horrific accident."

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A detective told the court that Williams and the boy's mother waited three hours to take the boy to the emergency room at UPMC McKeeport.

The 8-year-old was transferred to Children's Hospital where he was put on a ventilator and died a few days later.

A forensic pathologist testified the child died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Another detective also told the court the boy's older brother said earlier that night Williams punched his brother in the chest so hard that he could hardly breathe.

Williams' attorney says she'll try to get the charge reduced to involuntary manslaughter during the trial.

"I think that's what is appropriate," said Mancuso. "I want the focus to stay on the tragedy of the loss of this little boy."

The victim's aunt also took the stand. She testified that the child's mother sent her pictures of physical abuse to both of her sons, allegedly committed by Williams, in 2013.

Williams is now in the Allegheny County Jail, charged with assault, homicide and endangering the welfare of children.