Teen Father Convicted Of Killing 16-Month-Old Son

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Posted: 6:24 AM Sep 7, 2008
Last Updated: 6:24 AM Sep 7, 2008

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A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to up to 38 years in prison after a jury convicted him of killing his 16-month-old son.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported that jurors rejected a charge of first-degree murder and found Joshua Anderson guilty of second-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of Jamal Markes Shepard. Judge Catherine Eagles sentenced Anderson on Friday to consecutive sentences that total 30 to 38 years -- the maximum allowed.

Prosecutors say Anderson slammed the baby against a wall in June 2006 causing skull fractures and swelling of the brain. Jamal died 11 days later. Anderson's attorney Marilyn Massey says her client was a frightened father with limited mental capacity who was frustrated by the child's crying.

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Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane,NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Obama 08 4 Prez: And just what is your answer to this problem. I'm sure there is an answer somewhere in the Obama bag.

Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane, NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:33 PM
Maggie of kinston: you did the right thing. These people hate to be confronted because they are cowards. I would and do the same thing you did, my friend told me that one day someone would punch my lights out; better me than the child. Cowards never punch anyone their size, only children.

Posted by: maggie Location: Kinston on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:22 PM
This is so sad ,so many people's life changed forever!!! But we as a society see child abuse all the time but choose not to get involved for fear of making someone angry!! I stepped in Sat to confront a father who after exiting the food lion with what appeared to be a little boy between the age of 1 to 2 years old tossed the child in the back seat of the car and began to strike him with a wooden paddle or yard stick he hit this small child about six times as hard as he could and then acted as if he had done nothing wrong when I approched him His respones to me was that is my baby and it ain't none of your business.I replied what you just did is against the law and i am going to call the police . I wrote down his tag # and called the police but because his car had a 30 day tag on it they said there was nothing that they could do. I wonder what is going to happen to this little boy at home if he beat the crap out of him in the parking lot. Please make it your business .

Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Death Penalty 48 hours after conviction. End of story.

Posted by: do what? Location: Williamston on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:32 PM
why is it almost EVERY time a crime occurs a defendant's "mental capacity" is brought into question??

Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Sep 7, 2008 at 10:54 PM
What kind of person would have a child with a person with limited mental capacity? Just because you can make or have a baby doesn't mean you should. Now we have a dead baby, a mental father in prison and mother and two families who have to deal with this forever. No happily ever after here.

Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane, NC on Sep 7, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Limited mental capacity or not, cons do not like baby killers.

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Sep 7, 2008 at 01:18 PM
If he has a limited mental capacity, why did someone leave him alone to look out for the child in the first place? I just don't understand people sometimes.

Posted by: concered Location: goldsboro on Sep 7, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Children having babies and don't have a clue as to what they are doing!Please educate your kids and take respondsibility!

Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Sep 7, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Limiteed mental capacity.. yeah, its called being a monster that knows no other way of handling things except through violence. I guess that could be considered limited mental capacity. Its amazing what passes for an excuse to kill an innocent person these days.. especially a child. How sad. Wonder where the mother is in all of this?

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