GUILTY PA - Tahjir Smith, 4, beaten & scalded to death, spilled cereal, Willow Grove, 23 Jan 2018 *Arrests*

[gregjrichards]

“A mother and her boyfriend from Pennsylvania have been charged with attempted murder after being were arrested on Tuesday night, accused of beating their four-year-old son to death after he spilled his cereal.

Lisa Smith, 19, and her boyfriend Keiff King, 26, of Willow Grove, near Philadelphia, also face charges of aggravated assault and other crimes in connection with the death of their son, Tahjir.

After the little boy spilled his breakfast, Smith and King decided to punish him by punching him in the back of the head, stripping him naked from the waist down and using a sandal to smack his buttocks.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...son-4-death-spilled-cereal.html#ixzz557DxyPeQ



May Tahjir Smith Rest In Peace

I’m so sick of reading these ongoing horrific child abuse and murder cases. Why do these monsters have children?

 

[JanetElaine]

[snip]

May Tahjir Smith Rest In Peace

I’m so sick of reading these ongoing horrific child abuse and murder cases. Why do these monsters have children?

rsbm&bbm

Amen... and, not that there's ever a good reason for this kind of behavior but, for spilling cereal?? Poor baby. Rest in peace Tahjir. :rose:

 

[Yellow Rose]

The misery this poor beautiful child endured is beyond the pale. Makes me gag in horror.

 

[Trinitee]

So sad.

 

[ts51]

So sad!! And the mother is eight months pregnant!! Smh..unbelievable.

 

[MicheleT]

From 2/3/18 Dad speaks out:

“He was always happy when he was around me,” said his father, Mark Anthony Johnson. “He had a regular child’s life.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/p...ild-abuse-death-in-willow-grove-20180203.html

 

[Niner]

When you are a little kid don't spill your cereal, don't drink your brother's juice, put on your pjs when told, and hopefully your "mom" doesn't have a crazy boyfriend..... or for that matter a crazy mother....


:rose: Justice for Tahjir :rose:

 

[Niner]

Looks like they appeared in court last Friday, April 6th:

Penn. couple beat 4-year-old boy to death for spilling cereal: police
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/penn-couple-beat-4-year-old-boy-to-death-for-spilling-cereal-police/

WILLOW GROVE, Penn. - A young suburban Philadelphia couple is facing first-degree murder charges for the January beating death of 4-year-old Tahjir Smith, who apparently angered them when he spilled his breakfast cereal at their Willow Grove home, CBS Philadelphia reports.

The boy's 19-year-old mother, Lisa Smith, and her 26-year-old boyfriend, Keiff King, were arraigned Friday via video from the jail where they've been held since January.

Those charged with first-degree murder in Pennsylvania are not eligible for bail.



http://wreg.com/2018/04/10/mom-boyfriend-accused-of-beating-4-year-old-to-death-over-spilled-cereal/

Smith and King are both due back in court April 18.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, April 18th:
*Prelim Hearing – PA – Tahjir Smith (4) (Jan. 23, 2018-beaten for spilling cereal) – Lisa Smith (19) “mom” & Keiff King (26) BF charged with 1st degree murder, aggravated assault & child endangerment. $500K bond for both. Had Prelim hearing 1/31/18 & 4/6/18. Not eligible for bail per PA laws.

 

[Niner]

If anyone can access the Montgomery County court site - it would be appreciated if I could get the next court date! Another one I can not access!! cguru:

TIA! :wave:

 

[MsMarple]

If anyone can access the Montgomery County court site - it would be appreciated if I could get the next court date! Another one I can not access!! cguru:

TIA! :wave:

Hi Niner! It looks like both were arraigned on 4/25/2018. The next hearings are pending.

King CP-46-CR-0001627-2018:
https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Docke...eport.ashx?docketNumber=CP-46-CR-0001627-2018
https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CPReport.ashx?docketNumber=CP-46-CR-0001627-2018

Smith CP-46-CR-0001628-2018:
https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Docke...eport.ashx?docketNumber=CP-46-CR-0001628-2018
https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CPReport.ashx?docketNumber=CP-46-CR-0001628-2018

Main search page - be sure to include Montgomery for county and Criminal for Docket type.

https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CP.aspx

 

[Niner]

Hi MsMarple - got the April 25th date. Can you look again for any court dates in May? I can't access the links you provided, otherwise I wouldn't bother you!

TIA! :wave:

 

[Niner]

:bump: and hoping MsMarples sees this and will check the court site!

 

[Niner]

Homicide charges upheld against Abington Couple
http://www.montgomerynews.com/times...cle_53bfb6a6-8380-5362-9bb4-ca7f5ca1a2d8.html

ABINGTON >> The mother of a 4-year-old boy who died following a beating in January and her boyfriend will be tried for first-degree murder.

District Judge John Kessler upheld charges of first- and third-degree murder and conspiracy against Lisa Smith, 19, and Keiff King, 26, of the 1800 block of Lukens Avenue in the Willow Grove section of Abington, following a brief preliminary hearing May 11.

Charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child lodged against the couple had been held for trial by Kessler at a March 2 preliminary hearing. The attempted homicide charge against the couple was upgraded in April to first- and third-degree murder after the coroner ruled the child’s death a homicide.

Both are being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
[.....]
Formal arraignment was scheduled for July 5.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, July 5th:
*Formal Arraignment Hearing – PA – Tahjir Smith (4) (Jan. 23, 2018-beaten for spilling cereal) – Lisa Smith (19) “mom” & Keiff King (26) BF charged with 1st & 3rd degree murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault & child endangerment. No bail for both. Had Prelim hearing 1/31/18, 4/6/18, 4/18, 4/25 to 5/11/18.

 

[Niner]

calling @MsMarple - still can't get into the court site, and just googled to see if anything new was out there, but I only get articles up to April, 2018.

If you could look & see if they have a new court date yet?

TIA!!!

 

[MsMarple]

calling @MsMarple - still can't get into the court site, and just googled to see if anything new was out there, but I only get articles up to April, 2018.

If you could look & see if they have a new court date yet?

TIA!!!

Hi Niner!

For King and Smith - Omnibus Pre-Trial Motions Hearing August 2, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Courtroom 8.

Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System

 

[Niner]

Much appreciated MsMarple! THANKS!

 

[Niner]

I'll be on a road trip tomorrow - so posting this now:

Thursday, August 2nd:
*Omnibus Pretrial Motions (@ 1:30pm ET) Hearing – PA – Tahjir Smith (4) (Jan. 23, 2018-beaten for spilling cereal) – Lisa Smith (19) “mom” & Keiff King (26) BF charged with 1st & 3rd degree murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault & child endangerment. No bail for both.
Had Prelim hearing 1/31/18, 4/6/18, 4/18, 4/25, 5/11 & 7/5/18.
7/17/18 Update: Next Omnibus Pretrial Motions hearing on 8/2 for both.

 

[Niner]

http://www.timesherald.com/article/JR/20180806/NEWS/180809909

NORRISTOWN >> Prosecutors want a jury to hear remarks a 4-year-old boy made to relatives regarding the physical abuse he suffered allegedly at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend in the months leading up to his death in their Abington home.

Tahjir Smith, according to court papers, allegedly told relatives that his mother Lisa Smith, 20, “beat him” when he urinated on himself and that Smith’s boyfriend, Keiff King, 26, “beat him up” and put him in a shed and “put a ‘welp’ on him.” Relatives, prosecutors alleged, told investigators they observed visible injuries on Tahjir, such as “black eyes, burn marks, lumps and welts,” and that on at least two occasions they took physical custody of Tahjir because they were concerned for the child.
[.....]
But defense lawyer Carrie L. Allman, who represents Smith, argued the statements of Tahjir and family and friends are “hearsay” and should not be heard by a jury.

“I don’t believe any of these are admissible,” Allman argued.

Allman also is attempting to keep a jury from hearing Smith’s alleged incriminating statement to detectives, arguing it was coerced and not voluntary. Prosecutors argued Smith’s statement to detectives was obtained properly and was voluntarily provided by Smith.

Ferman took the pretrial matters under advisement and will rule at a later date.
[.....]
Ferman scheduled the joint jury trial for Smith and King for June 17, 2019.


and unfortunately, no next hearing date.... if anyone finds one - please post! TIA!