Infant death case ends with probation

MARIETTA, Ga., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A 12-year-old Florida boy will spend two years on probation after being convicted of battery for the death of his 5-week-old cousin, a judge in Georgia says.

Cobb County Juvenile Court Judge A. Gregory Poole sentenced the boy, whose identity was not released, to two years of probation Wednesday instead of the up to two years in juvenile detention the boy faced for his conviction, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported.

Prosecutors said the boy was left alone in a car with the infant daughter of his mother's 22-year-old cousin Brittiany Young on July 4. When Young returned to the vehicle after shopping, she found her daughter Milan unresponsive.

The infant died on July 5 and a medical examination found the child suffered head fractures and bruising, as well as brain hemorrhages and retinal hemorrhages.

The medical examiner determined the injuries were likely sustained by the infant being slammed into a hard surface at least twice.

The Times said the judge decided the young boy did not understand the ramifications of his actions in the incident and instead of convicting the boy of murder, found him guilty on two lesser counts of battery.