I hate that I even know this but it seems one of the more common blunt force traumas that occur in infant deaths are table edges. For whatever reason striking a child’s head on the edge of a table is both efficient and convenient. I can’t even conceive of a hammer or similar tool. I remember vividly many decades ago the first case i ever heard where an infant died of intentional blunt force trauma and she was thrown against the wall repeatedly by a boyfriend (not the father) while the mother sat in a rocking chair and watched. I knew the mother.
I have been wondering if perhaps the “premeditation” might relate to the 911 call involving the grandparents. Possibly during that event Dad might have made an excited utterance to the effect of “I will kill her before I let them take her from me”. I can see that possibility quite easily. Or perhaps that he would make sure they never see her again, that is always an oldie but a goodie. I just have such a hard time reconciling the photo of him holding the older child on his lap while she sleeps and the look of love in his eyes with a cold blooded execution of the baby.
I also think I view the behavior in the court room different than most. I see a very wounded little boy trying not to let anyone see a chink in the armor of his tough guy image. The hair over his eyes so no one sees a tear and not speaking so no one hears his voice crack with emotion. ‘Daddy’s little girl” is dead and the girl he thinks will always be there for him has turned on him (the DV allegation). He already had abandonment issues (mom and dad’s divorce*, dad calling the police on him*, his allegation Dad beat him*) and a long history of running away from his problems* (arrested at least 5 times as a runaway*) and now he feels abandoned all over. I am not defending the actions he is accused of but looking at what I believe goes on in his head. That doesn’t necessarily mean his beliefs are true. That is one of the horrible things about mental illness I’d how real the feelings can be even when they are non-existent. He believes he can’t win against the legal system after all the simple assault on an officer was for a tree limb hitting the officer*. After all who is going to believe the tattoo faced ex con? He has spent his lifetime being a victim of his own poor choices and being the victim is all he sees. Everyone has always believed the worst of him how was he not going to live up to their expectations?
*
http://www.11alive.com/news/investigations/daddys-girl-/482793628