Montville NJ First Degree Murder LawyersPre-trial hearings recently started in the high-profile homicide case of a man accused of beating a young toddler to death at a motel in Montville, NJ.

On April 10, 2015, the Montville Police Department sent police officers to the Knights Inn in Montville NJ after getting a 911 call from the victim’s mom and her boyfriend. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered that the three-year-old child was suffering from severe bruises, was soaking wet, and was struggling to breathe. The victim’s mother and her boyfriend reportedly spoke with Montville police and said that the child choked on food.

Montville NJ police officers reportedly saw that the victim’s mom was the likely victim of a physical assault because she had bruises on her face, as well as a black eye.

The victim was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey, where doctors treated him for his injuries. However, the doctors could not save the victim; he was pronounced dead a few days later.

The 29-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Shortly after the three-year-old victim died, the charges against the suspect were upgraded to murder.

According to Morris County prosecutors, police realized early on that victim’s injuries were not caused by choking on food. Instead, said law enforcement, it was clear “that an assault had occurred.” Morris County NJ medical examiners stated that the victim died as a result of blunt force trauma to his head.

At pretrial hearings in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown NJ, the superior court judge heard arguments from prosecutors for the admission of certain crucial pieces of evidence. Among the most vital pieces of evidence for the prosecution is a videotaped interview of the suspect that was conducted by detectives after the initial 911 call.

For additional information about this case, view the DailyRecord.com article, “Battered Toddler Found in Montville after 911 Call.”