8-year-old boy charged with murder in beating death of 1-year-old girl

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An 8-year-old boy is being charged with beating a 1-
year-old girl to death while they were left home alone as
their mothers went to a nightclub, Alabama police said
Tuesday.

Birmingham police spokesman Sean Edwards said the boy
beat and killed 1-year-old Kelci Lewis when she wouldn't
stop crying. The mother of the toddler, 26-year-old
Katerra Lewis, also is charged with manslaughter for her
role in the death of her daughter.

"This is by far one of the saddest cases that I have
witnessed and been a part of since I became a
police officer," Edwards said. "This type of
irresponsibility on behalf of a parent is totally
unacceptable," he said.

Police said a murder warrant has been obtained for the
boy who is now in the care of Alabama's child welfare
agency, the Department of Human Resources. His case
will go through the family court system.

Edwards said the 8-year-old was the oldest of six
children left alone as their mothers, Katerra Lewis and a
friend, went to a nightclub on the night of Oct 11. The 8-
year old is the son of Katerra Lewis' friend. The friend
has not been charged.

A 6-year-old who was in the home that night told police
what happened, Edwards said, and the information was
consistent with the toddler's injuries.
Kelci Lewis suffered severe head trauma and major
damage to her internal organs, police said.

Edwards said the 8-year-old is the youngest murder
defendant he's ever been aware of in the Birmingham area.
"I believe the 8 year-old is going to require some
intense counseling for the next several years,"
Edwards said.

He said the mother's punishment is "something she has to
live with for the rest of her life."
Katerra Lewis has posted $15,000 bond.

Source: LIB

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