A felon who delivered fatal smacks to a defenseless toddler’s stomach will face homicide charges, Brooklyn prosecutors said today.
Tyree Wright, who was out on probation, slugged 2-year-old Jacquil Degraffenreid twice in a rage for making a mess with baby powder in his bedroom, prosecutor Wilfredo Cotto said.
The blows sent the tot flying, Cotto said, “causing the baby to bounce on the baby’s bed and fall on the floor” and hit his head.
Wright, 19, had originally faced assault charges for the alleged Friday night beating. He was on probation for robbery when girlfriend Natalie Garner, 21, left Jaquil with him at their Cypress Hills home.
An autopsy by the city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showed Jacquil died from lacerations to his liver and pancreas and internal hemorrhaging.
“The baby threw up multiple times,” Cotto said. “The doctors observed multiple bruises to his body.”
Wright, whose lengthy rap sheet includes arrests for robbery and assault, was ordered held without bail by Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge John Hecht.
Wright turned to blow a kiss to his family as he was led out of the courtoom in handcuffs.
He was held without bail and is due back in court Tuesday.
In a videotaped interview with prosecutors, Wright said he hit the boy because he was crying.
Cotto said he was set off when Jacquil scattered baby powder all over his room.
Wright’s relatives and his court-appointed lawyer declined comment.
His girlfriend, who told detectives her son was hit on the head by a falling pot at the Shepherd Avenue apartment, has not been charged with any crime.