The New London man accused of killing his 2-month-old son was charged with manslaughter today and pleaded not guilty in court.
The child died Oct. 26 after 24-year-old Adam Browne allegedly shook the baby, named Jovanni, causing the brain injury that killed him. It happened at the New London apartment that Browne shared with Margaret Chapman, Browne’s girlfriend and Jovanni’s mother.
Now Browne is facing charges and Chapman’s family is enraged.
“I wanted to kill him,” Chapman said, after seeing Browne in court for the first time since Jovanni died. “I wanted to do to him what he did to my son.”
Chapman said she and Browne had been together for years, and that she always trusted him to watch her three children. She said the loss has been especially difficult for her twins.
“My four-year-old kids wanted to teach him how to walk. My four-year-old kids wanted to help him talk. My kids wanted everything for their brother,” Chapman said.
Tensions were high in the courtroom. At one point, officials had to break up a heated exchange as Chapman and her family grew emotional.
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“I don’t want this to ever happen to another baby,” said Melissa Watrous, Chapman’s mother. “That was my grandson. And I don’t want to see this happen ever again.”
The baby’s uncle said he’s searching for peace.
“The right thing to do is forgive the guy that killed him,” said William Chapman.
Browne is charged with first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and risk of injury to a minor. He’s being held on a $1 million bond and due back in court Dec. 6.
