KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Knox County jury has convicted a man in the child abuse death of his girlfriend's 18-month-old daughter.
Danny Jay Branam Jr. was found guilty Friday of child abuse and murder charges. He could be sentenced to life in prison.
The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/TI4QRU) reported a witness testified he saw bruises on the child, Brooklyn Stinnett, while her mother held her limp body and waited for emergency help called after the girl stopped breathing on April 5, 2011. The mother, Brittany Stinnett, and Branam first claimed the child had fallen from a crib.
Prosecutors said Brooklyn had suffered beatings for seven months and Branam was caring for her the day she died.
Defense lawyers argued that the girl was killed by her mother or her cousin Michael Stinnett.
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