A Houston man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal beating of his young son, all because the boy was struggling with potty training.
According to USA Today, 24-year-old Anthony Trakemon Powell was arraigned on capital murder charges yesterday for killing his 3-year-old son, Tristan, last month. What's more, he'll likely face additional charges for beating his 2-year-old son and pouring hot water on the boy:
Prosecutors say Powell picked up his sons from their mother in Jasper on Mother's Day, then brought them to stay with him at his sister's apartment in southeast Houston. Upset with his boys' progress in potty training, he allegedly beat them with his hands and a belt.
I'm tired of beating their ass and them not learning, he reportedly told his sister, according to court documents.
One day last week, he allegedly struck Tristan so hard the boy was knocked the bathroom floor and hit his head. Prosecutors said the aunt talked about the incident in detail.
USA Today adds that, the following morning, the elder boy was struggling to breathe. He was rushed to the hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to swelling to his brain and a fractured skull.
Prosecutor Connie Spence described Powell as nonchalant about the situation, and the boys' aunt, 23-year-old Prosha Nicole Land, also faces charges for injury to a child by omission.
If convicted, Powell could face the death penalty.
[via USA Today]
