Breaking News # (must read)

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