HARTFORD — The Connecticut Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a man serving a 70-year prison sentence for throwing his baby son to his death off a 90-foot-high bridge.
The court ruled 7-0 Tuesday against Tony Moreno, who was convicted of murder and risk of injury to a minor. His 7-month-old son, Aaden, died after being thrown from the Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown in 2015.
Moreno also jumped off the bridge, but survived serious injuries.
Norm Pattis, Moreno’s defense attorney, said, “Criminal defense lawyers talk about the heinous crime exception to the Bill of Rights. This case illustrates it. Had Tony entered into a contract to purchase a car in that hospital room, the Court would have thrown the contract out. But confess to a crime, and all bets are off. This is a deep disappointment.”
The court disagreed with Moreno’s arguments that incriminating statements he made to police while he was hospitalized shouldn’t have been used against him.
His lawyers also argued any waiver of rights was involuntary because of his weakened condition.
Moreno testified he accidentally dropped the boy.
Police said Moreno and Aaden’s mother exchanged angry text messages before the incident.
