Man getting new trial in beating death of child

MOUNT CLEMENS (AP) - A 30-year-old suburban Detroit man serving a life sentence for the beating death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old son in 2013 is getting a new trial.

A jury convicted Ronald Dimambro Jr. of Washington Township in 2014 of first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse in the slaying of Damian Sutton. First-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty in Michigan of life in prison without parole.

Macomb County Circuit Judge Jennifer Faunce, who presided over his trial, ordered a new trial in 2016 based on 32 autopsy photos that weren't given to his lawyer. A Michigan appeals court upheld that decision and the Michigan Supreme Court this month declined to take the case.

Authorities say Dimambro was babysitting for Damian when he attacked the boy, breaking his skull. Damian died several days later.

Published: Mon, Oct 16, 2017