HARTFORD — A 21-year-old Hartford man who police say confessed to punching a 13-month-old girl to death, now says the girl’s mother fatally punched her.
David Brown-Barrett is accused of manslaughter stemming from the death of Tyasia Allen on Sept. 12, 2013.
The Hartford Courant reports Brown-Barrett told a Hartford Superior Court jury on Monday his confession to police was false and that 23-year-old Demi Henry actually delivered the blows. He says he did not want to speak against his then-girlfriend.
Brown-Barrett initially said Tyasia fell off a bed and hit her head.
The state claims he punched the child because he was tired and she would not stop crying.
Henry told prosecutors she did not harm her child.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday.