OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A jury has found a Tulsa man guilty of killing a 19-month-old child and soliciting murder against the baby's mother.
Jurors in Oklahoma County District Court convicted Bert Franklin on Thursday of first-degree murder in the death of Lincoln Lewis. Franklin, 37, was in a relationship with Lincoln's mother, Roxanne Randall, at the time.
Prosecutors said Franklin caused fatal skull fractures to the toddler inside Randall's Oklahoma City house on July 16, 2016. The toddler died two days later.
Home surveillance video showed Franklin making a kicking and throwing motion at what prosecutors believe to be Lewis. Prosecutors described the toddler as "alert and active" before the kicking motions documented in the video. Lewis is later shown in the video being carried by Franklin.
"Bert Franklin destroyed that child's life," said Prosecutor Ryan Stephenson.
Franklin's attorney Scott Adams argued he was not kicking the child, but rather the dog that was allegedly known to be disobedient.
Franklin was also found guilty of soliciting the help of fellow jail inmates to kill Randall so she couldn't testify against him.
He denied all allegations.
Jurors chose life in prison without parole for the murder conviction and life in prison for the conspiracy conviction. Franklin showed no reaction during the announcement.
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