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2 men face trial in child beatings
Thursday, May 31, 2001 By Marylynne Pitz, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Two men accused of beating their girlfriends' children so badly that they required hospitalization were ordered yesterday to stand trial on identical sets of charges.
Melvin "Charlie" Taylor, 30, of East Hills Drive, baby-sat Anjanae Jaamere Bruce, a 3-year-old girl being raised by her grandmother, Gwendolyn Tolliver. Bruce, who suffered brain damage, remains in Children's Hospital.
During a preliminary hearing in city court yesterday, Tolliver testified that Taylor is her boyfriend. On April 23, a co-worker told Tolliver to call home.
Tolliver said that when she telephoned, Taylor told her he had fed fish sticks to Anjanae for lunch and that she vomited. Tolliver said she took the child to West Penn Hospital.
Although Anjanae is no longer in a coma, she cannot control her hands and feet, according to Dr. Sandra Herr, a Children's Hospital physician who examined her last week.
Anjanae's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates body temperature, is damaged, Herr added. The child suffered bleeding outside her brain and swelling of the brain as well as multiple bruises on her legs, arms, back and buttocks, Herr testified.
Taylor must stand trial on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.
City Detective Dennis Logan testified yesterday that Taylor admitted to spanking Anjanae on two separate occasions on April 22.
On the morning of that day, Taylor spanked Anjanae after she woke up Tolliver's 13-year-old twin girls. Later that day, Taylor spanked the child again.
Taylor used his hand and a black leather belt to discipline the child, Logan testified. Taylor also admitted to shaking the child on the second occasion.
"He said he got rougher with her than he intended to," Logan testified.
Kenneth Haber, a defense lawyer for Taylor, said his client "loves this child and has cared for this child in the past. He prays every day for the child to recover."
In a second incident, a 19-year-old Hill District man accused of severely beating a 3-month-old infant and his 2-year-old brother must stand trial on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment.
Chief City Magistrate William T. Simmons dismissed a charge of attempted murder yesterday against Leon Smith, the boyfriend of Autumn Barrow. But he denied a request to lower Smith's $50,000 cash bond.
During a hearing yesterday, Barrow testified that on the night of May 17, she went out with friends at 11:45 p.m. and left her children in Smith's care at a home on Bedford Avenue. Barrow said Smith offered to watch her sons as a belated Mother's Day present to her.
When Barrow returned at 2:30 a.m. on the morning of May 18, she noticed that both children had been beaten and took them to West Penn Hospital.
The children were moved to Children's Hospital, where they are still receiving care.
Dr. Sandra Herr, a Children's Hospital physician, examined both children and said their injuries could be fatal.
Jammea, a 3-month-old boy, suffered bone fractures, a neck injury, a lacerated spleen and other internal injuries.
"These injuries are absolutely life-threatening to that child," Dr. Sharon Herr testified.
Tremont, Barrow's 2-year-old son, suffered bruising to his brain and internal injuries.
City Police Detective Sharon Keasley testified that Smith admitted to beating the children.
"He was trying to get them to stop crying," Keasley testified, adding that Smith picked up Jammea Barrow and dropped him into his bassinet.
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