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A man who stomped on a two-year-old girl, resulting in her death, found guilty of manslaughter.

Mussie Debresay, became angry at the toddler for urinating on his couch, his reaction resulted in catastrophic internal injuries to her tiny body, in May 2005.

She was dead within hours.

The Footscray man had pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder – he claimed his girlfriend’s daughter injured herself when she fell off his couch, reports 9news.

After four days of deliberations the Victorian Supreme Court jury on Monday found Debresay guilty of manslaughter but cleared him of the more serious murder charge.

The victim died as a result of her abdomen being deliberately squeezed or compressed by an extreme, severe force, the trial heard.

The mother – who can’t be named for legal reasons – and her three children had been staying with Debresay, who the kids called “Daddy MJ”, when the deadly force was inflicted.

When a baby-sitter came over she noticed the toddler was slumped across the coffee table with her feet on the ground. She appeared tired.

The jury heard the two-year-old would have been lethargic due to massive internal bleeding caused by the injuries she’d sustained.

Later that day the toddler became unresponsive so her mother rushed her to a medical centre where she was pronounced dead.

When the victim’s four-year-old brother was asked if he knew what had happened he said he saw Debresay stomping or standing on his sister because she’d been naughty.

Prosecutors said only two people could have caused the injuries – Debresay or the toddler’s mother – and there was no evidence the mother harmed her.

“By far the worst thing that ever happened to (the victim) was that her mother met the accused,” prosecutor Sally Flynn said in her closing address.

Debresay appeared to be holding back tears after the verdict was delivered on Monday.

He was remanded in custody until November 17 when he’s scheduled to return for a sentencing hearing.

According to VIC Law, the maximum penalty for a charge of manslaughter is 20 years, while the maximum penalty for a charge of murder is life imprisonment.

What the Police must prove according to VIC Law for Murder

(a) The accused caused the death of another person by an intended act or omission.

(b) There was malice aforethought that preceded or co-existed with this act or omission.

(c) Malice aforethought is satisfied in a number of ways.

Firstly, it may be satisfied by an intention to cause the death of, or grievous bodily harm to, any person whether such person is killed or not.

Secondly, it may be satisfied by knowledge that the act which caused death would probably cause the death of, or grievous bodily harm to, some person, whether such person is actually killed or not.

Thirdly, it may be satisfied by an intent to commit any crime the necessary elements of which include violence and which may on first conviction be punished by life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term of 120 months or more, where the death is intentionally caused by an act of violence done in the course or furtherance of such a crime.

Do you think he got a fair charge?

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  • There\’s more to this sad story the mother was also a suspect but was never charged because her family member is a cop and had a lot to do with this case. This man is innocent and the truth will be told.

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  • Justice has to be done. It seems pretty obvious from the report that the man was responsible.

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  • How awful is this ?!
    No he should have been charged more heavily !

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  • Should be a murder charge in my opinion

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  • what is wrong with a person when they think they can do terrible hurtful things to a child and then think its ok?Time for these people to receive harder punishment,how would he feel if someone triple his size stood or stomped on him!

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  • It is really sad

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  • I also hope his sentence is justice to what happen to the poor little girl.

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  • I hope he gets the highest sentence possible! These people should never be allowed around children ever again!

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  • This makes me sick. Still me people have NO control and do NOT deserve either precious children – or any leniency!!!

    Reply

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