PORTSMOUTH
A 31-year-old Cradock father pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the death of his 7-week-old daughter.
Aaron Michael Bennet called 911 on Feb. 20, saying his baby, McKenzie Bennet, was unresponsive, according to testimony from Dectective Kevin Parker, the lead investigator.
Parker said Bennet later told social workers and hospital staff that he had struck the baby.
The detective testified that Bennet got into a fetal position in a "quiet room" of the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. He said he couldn't be around the child anymore because he was a danger to her.
Parker said police listened to phone calls that Bennet made and heard him say that he struck the child two different times and that he had slammed her into his chest.
The baby never regained consciousness and was taken off life support a week later. An autopsy showed the infant had 11 broken ribs and a fractured leg. She died of inflicted brain injury, Parker testified.
Under terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors will not ask for a sentence that exceeds 20 years of active time in prison.
The agreement also states that upon Bennet's release from prison he may not have unsupervised contact with minors; that he must undergo mental health treatment; and that he may have no contact with his wife, Chelsea Bennet, or her family and friends.
He will be sentenced Aug. 26.
Chelsea Bennet sat quietly during the court proceedings between the police detective and a victim witness staff member. Behind her, family and friends filled that side of the courtroom.
She declined to talk about the case for this story.
Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com
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