The father of a slain 7-year-old boy has been sentenced for the child’s horrific death, as well as for attempting to blame the scalding injuries on a spilling accident.
Murtadah Mohammad, 27, will serve 45 years to life in prison for second-degree murder, the New Hampshire Department of Justice announced on Tuesday.
He also faces a two-to-four-year consecutive sentence for falsifying physical evidence, but the court ordered that it be suspended for ten years once he is released on the homicide charge — as long as Mohammad commits no other crimes. Mohammad pleaded guilty on April 1.
As previously reported, Manchester police officers were dispatched to a home on Eastern Avenue early on January 17.
They received a report that the victim, Jaevion Riley, 7, had suffered significant burns to his face and body. They stated that they were told he was not conscious and not breathing.
“The hospital described his injuries as torture, mutilation, and brutalization,” Jaevion’s mother, Rainah Riley, told NBC Boston at the time.
She described burns, a knocked-out tooth, and blunt force trauma to Jaevion’s head.
“This man was trying to kill my child,” she reportedly told police.
According to police, Mohammad claimed to be in the shower and was unaware of his son’s injuries. However, investigators said they found no evidence that anyone had recently taken a shower.
Authorities believe Mohammad staged a spill accident that resulted in his son’s scalding injuries. Ultimately, he admitted in court to physically abusing his son and failing to seek timely medical attention for his injuries.
“This was a heartbreaking case, and today’s sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s actions,” Attorney General John M. Formella said in a statement Tuesday. “We are extremely grateful to the trial team, investigators, and Manchester Police for their efforts and dedication in obtaining justice for Jaevion Riley.”
While no sentence can undo this tragedy, we hope it brings some sense of accountability and closure.”
