American woman accused of using baby to batter boyfriend

AN American woman accused of using her baby to batter her boyfriend said she didn’t realise what she was doing until it was too late.

Chyrotia Graham, 27, of Erie, Pennsylvania, told police she had been drinking when an argument with her boyfriend, the child’s father, turned violent early on Sunday morning, according to an affidavit filed to support Graham’s arrest.

Graham said she “snapped” and began grabbing things and throwing them at Deangelo Troop, 20, not realising she had picked up her four-week-old son, Jarron Troop, who police said she held by the legs and swung at his father.

Graham was being held at a jail on a $75,000 (€60,000) bond.

She faces charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and assault.

Jarron, who was born on September 11, suffered a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain after the incident. The infant’s head hit Mr Troop, who had also fathered one of Graham’s other four children.

Mr Troop told the Erie Times-News that Graham never meant to hurt their child.

“People are trying to make a big deal about it, but she did not do it on purpose. It was just a mistake,” he said.

Defence lawyer Alison Scarpitti, who was assigned by authorities to represent Graham, said she could not comment because she had not met with Graham.

Police said Mr Troop punched Graham in the eye after she put the baby down, and police photos later showed her eye blackened and swollen shut.

Authorities said there was no indication Mr Troop had hit his son, but that they were reviewing the case to see if any charges might be warranted.

“I don’t anticipate any at this time,” said Erie police captain Frank Kwitowski.

Officials at a Pittsburgh hospital declined to release information about the baby early today. He was flown to the hospital by helicopter after the incident.

Authorities removed Graham’s other children from the home and granted temporary custody to their maternal grandparents.