Stepfather Charged for Abusing 1.5-Year-Old in Ararat

In the Ararat province, a 1.5-year-old child was subjected to abuse for days and ultimately died from brain injuries. According to 'Factinfo,' the individuals facing prosecution include the child's biological mother, stepfather, and grandmother.

It was reported that on February 7, 2021, the child was brought to 'Masis Medical Center' in a state of death, with numerous bodily injuries. The cause of death was identified as cranio-cerebral trauma. It became apparent that the child was a brutal victim of domestic violence.

According to the details of the criminal case, the child's mother and stepfather had been in a de facto marital relationship since November 2020, living together in Ararat province with the stepfather's father, his wife, and their two underage daughters.

Between February 1 and 6, 2021, the 1.5-year-old child frequently experienced distress due to not sleeping and crying. In response to this, the stepfather, along with the child's mother and step-grandmother, inflicted physical harm on the child's body, targeting various areas including the face, abdomen, back, and buttocks, for about five days. During this time, the stepfather expressed evident dislike for the child, hurling insults in addition to the physical abuse. Both the mother and grandmother, knowing that the child had an allergy to certain medications, force-fed the child 'Rimedrol' pills without any doctor's prescription or guidance to silence him.

Such conditions led to emotional disturbances for the child, creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. The child was repeatedly subjected to severe physical pain and psychological suffering, instilling a deep sense of worthlessness and unlove in his subconscious. Furthermore, on February 6, the day of the incident, the stepfather delivered powerful blows to the child's head while exclaiming, 'Die, we need to get rid of you, why aren't you sleeping?' Following these blows, the child weakened and fell onto the couch. Noticing the child had collapsed, the man covered him with a blanket and again struck him on the head and back.

Witnesses to the incident included the stepfather's father and a male guest at their house, who urged the stepfather to stop hitting the child, warning that the child would die. However, this advice was ignored. The stepfather then picked the child up by the neck, moved him to the bedroom, and placed him into the washing machine, where he continued to assault the child. The injuries resulted in the child's death.

The stepfather has been charged with murder and causing severe physical and psychological suffering under Article 104, part 1, and Article 119, part 2, points 3 and 5 of the RA Criminal Code. The child's mother and step-grandmother face charges under Article 119, part 2, points 3 and 5 for inflicting severe physical pain and psychological suffering on a minor by a group of persons. Both the stepfather and mother have been detained, while the grandmother was released on bail, conditionally agreeing not to leave.

The preliminary investigation in the criminal case has concluded, and the prosecutor's office has confirmed the charges, sending the case to court.