Peter Hendy of Washington, D.C., pleads guilty to second-degree murder for punching 4-year-old Kamari Taylor to death
Photo/CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS / @CSI?cafe via wikimedia commons
Kamari Zavon Taylor, a 4-year-old boy was punched to death by his mother’s boyfriend on August 5. On Thursday, Sept. 26, boyfriend, Peter I. Hendy II, 33, of the Washington, D.C. area pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in D.C. Superior Court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wright told the judge that on the day of the incident, Hendy was babysitting Kamari while his mother was at work. Hendy said that he was angry with Kamari, who insisted on riding his scooter. An irritated Hendy refused the boy and when he did, Kamari said, “I don’t have to listen to you — you’re not my daddy,” according to court charging documents.
Hendy, who had lost his patience by then, punched the child “four to five times,” including once in the stomach, before he went out to sell marijuana. Attorney Wright said that Hendy returned an hour later only to find Kamari with a “blank look” on his face. Paying no heed, Hendy left the apartment to sell marijuana again.
It was only when Hendy returned later he realized that something was wrong with the child. He called 911 and gave CPR as instructed. However, it was too late. Kamari was taken to the nearby hospital — he had died of multiple injuries to his torso, his liver was lacerated in three places, and he had two broken ribs. The punches were so hard that the medical officer noticed first marks on his body.
Hendy faces a maximum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 22.
