Man charged in child killing testifies

PROVIDENCE—A man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old nephew admitted knocking the child down the stairs because he was mad the boy made a mess in his apartment but said he did not mean to kill him and did not throw the toddler or otherwise strike him.

Gilbert Delestre, 27, also acknowledged at his murder trial Monday that he has previously lied about his role in the child’s death, saying he had initially blamed the teenage baby sitter and had falsely alleged that he was coerced by police into making a confession.

Delestre is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the October 2004 beating death of Thomas “T.J.“ Wright. The child and his two older brothers were living with Delestre and his then-girlfriend, Katherine Bunnell, in Woonsocket because their mother was in prison out of state.

Bunnell, whom prosecutors also accused of fatally beating the boy, was convicted in May of second-degree murder and is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole. Delestre’s lawyer has asked jurors in Providence Superior Court to convict Delestre of manslaughter but acquit him of murder because he says his client did not intend to kill the child.

Manslaughter carries up to 30 years in prison in Rhode Island, while first-degree murder carries a maximum punishment of life without parole.

Delestre testified Monday that he and Bunnell returned home early on Oct. 30, 2004 after drinking at a bar and found a mess of eggs, yogurt, milk and a bowl containing feces dirtying their Woonsocket apartment. Wright drew the blame, and Delestre said an irate Bunnell cursed at the child, dragged him by the arm and dumped a container of milk on his head.

Delestre said he called Wright a “bad boy” as the two walked upstairs and then struck him in the head with the back of his hand, sending the 32-pound toddler toppling backward down 8 to 10 steps.

“His whole body just flipped,“ Delestre said.

He said he tried to catch the child but was unable to. He picked up the child and brought him upstairs to bed.

“I think I heard him try to say yes or something,“ Delestre said. “He was just unconscious.“

But Delestre, testifying in his own defense, said that was the only time he struck the boy and denied throwing him across the room, as prosecutors and the baby sitter allege.

Wright died the following day after being pulled off life support.

Delestre admitted under questioning from both his lawyer and a prosecutor to lying repeatedly about the case since being taken into custody four years ago.

When police and rescue crews arrived, for instance, Delestre said he told them he had found the child in bed and that the 15-year-old baby sitter was responsible for his injuries.

He said he repeated the lie at the police station but ultimately gave a videotaped statement in which he admitted striking the child on the stairs.

He also acknowledged writing a letter to a fellow inmate at the state prison in which he falsely accused police detectives of threatening him and coercing him into confessing to the crime. Delestre said he wrote the letter to seek legal advice and to clear his name before fellow prisoners.

“I didn’t want to be known as a baby killer,“ Delestre said.