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Tampa Dad's Trial Begins In 10-Month-Old Boy's Death

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 6, 2008

TAMPA - Shortly after midnight July 27, 2005, Demetrius Blackmon's parents called 911.

The boy, just 10 months old, was rushed to University Community Hospital. Six days later, he was pronounced dead.

Today, prosecutors told a jury that doctors found a bruise on the boy's face in the shape of a hand. He also had a bruise on the back of his head. An autopsy revealed "massive, massive injuries," said Assistant State Attorney Kimberly Hindman.

It took nearly a year after Demetrius died in that hospital to make an arrest. Hillsborough County sheriff's investigators said they had to sift through conflicting statements from other people who were with Demetrius the day before his parents called 911.

Prosecutors are trying to prove that 31-year-old Jovan Deniro Blackmon, the boy's father, is guilty of first-degree murder.

On the witness stand, Blackmon's sister, Chantrell Walker, testified that Blackmon used to call Demetrius by a curse word rather than his name – although she said he often used that word as a nickname for people.

Connetia White, a family friend, testified that she saw Blackmon with a belt in his hand, holding it over the baby. She said she kicked Blackmon and told him he had better not to do anything. The baby wasn't crying, and she never saw him hit the baby.

Another family friend, Terametia Brown, testified that Blackmon told her he never liked Demetrius and Demetrius never liked him.

Blackmon's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Theda James, told the jury that no medical experts could tell -- within a margin of 18 hours -- what time Demetrius was injured. Three other adults plus the mother were with Demetrius during this time frame. Additionally, Demetrius was with his two brothers and six other children. All were at the home of Blackmon's sister.

Blackmon, James said, spent most of the day away from the children, upstairs in a bedroom playing video games.

"That's what happened all day," James said. "He is never alone with the children."

About 9 a.m., Blackmon dropped off the children's mother, Sonya Hannor, at work. He went straight to his sister's house. He was joined by Walker, White, Brown and their respective children.

Blackmon ran a few errands, including driving to a job interview, but was never alone with the children, witnesses testified. He picked up Hannor at work, dropped her off at school and returned to his sister's house.

By the time everyone got home, about 11 p.m., Demetrius' mother gave Demetrius a bottle and put him in bed. She and Blackmon fell asleep on the couch until about midnight, when Blackmon woke her to say something was wrong with the baby.

Blackmon's attorney said it is unlikely Demetrius was with his father and several adults all day and then, between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, Blackmon suddenly became violent.

There is no way to tell who hurt that child, James said.

"When we know the when, that's when we know the who," she told the jury.

The trial is scheduled through Thursday.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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