2nd Trial in Infant’s Death Begins This Week

A brand new trail in the 2009 death of Emanuel Murray Jr., 3 months, begins this week as jury selection in the case gets under way Monday, July 14.

Richard McTear, 25, is charged with first-degree murder and other offenses related to the death of his girlfriend’s son. McTear’s original trial began about a year ago, but was quickly sidelined when the baby’s mother, Jasmine Bedwell, accused McTear in court of threatening to shoot the baby in the face and then urinate on him, Bay News 9 reported.

“He wanted to come over and I told him no,” Bedwell was quoted by The Tampa Tribune as saying. “He told me he was going to come over and shoot my baby in the face and piss on him and in his face, and he was going to kill both of us.”

Circuit Judge William Fuente had previously ruled those statements inadmissible because they related to other charges McTear had been acquitted on. In light of the comments, Fuente declared a mistrial.

Law enforcement officials who investigated the case contend McTear went to Bedwell’s home on May 5, 2009, beat her and then threw a baby carrier against a wall. Emanuel was in it and fell onto a concrete floor. McTear is then accused of taking off with the baby and throwing him onto I-275.

McTear has pleaded not guilty in the possible death penalty case.