Father to stand trial for murder in infant's death

Staff
AP News

Oct 23, 2008 13:44 EDT

A judge has ordered a murder trial for a teenage father accused of shaking his 8-month-old daughter to death because she wouldn't stop crying.

Paul D. Powell II was watching his daughter, Takyra Banks, at his grandmother's house when the baby died on July 17.

A district judge ruled Wednesday there's enough evidence for Powell, 17, to stand trial on open murder and first-degree child abuse charges. He faces an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of first-degree murder.

Defense lawyer Major White questioned why police interviewed Powell without his mother being there.

Powell remains in juvenile lockup without bond.

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Information from: The Flint Journal, http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal

Source: AP News