Zymere Perkins.Photo: Facebook
A New York City man has been sentenced to prison after beingconvicted of murderinghis girlfriend’s 6-year-old son in 2016.
On Monday, Rysheim Smith, 42, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison,PIX11,NBC4and theNew York Daily Newsreport. Smith was previously convicted on five counts in connection with the abuse and death of Zymere Perkins.
In January 2020, Smith was found guilty of second-degree murder, first-and second-degree manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according toManhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“The death of Zymere Perkins was an unthinkable tragedy that sent shockwaves through the city and inspired a reckoning with how our social services system works to protect New York’s most vulnerable,” District Attorney Cy Vance said in a statement after the guilty verdict. “Zymere was an innocent and helpless 6-year-old boy who suffered unconscionable, ongoing violence at the hands of Rysheim Smith. Now, a Manhattan jury has rightly held the defendant accountable for this horrific murder.”
In 2010, Zymere’s mother, Geraldine Perkins, and Smith were investigated for allegedly using drugs and in later years often allegedly used corporal punishment to discipline Zymere.
Rysheim Smith.
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During Smith’s trial, Perkins testified against Smith and admitted to repeatedly abusing her son using a belt.
Zymere’s former kindergarten teacher, Josefina Gutierrez, also testified during the trial. She told the jury that she stopped calling the boy’s home to report misbehavior because she was afraid it would lead to beatings.
Gutierrez recalled one day when Smith suggested she mention his name to Zymere anytime he misbehaved. When she followed his suggestion, a look of terror in Zymere’s eye made her never want to call his home again.
“I was afraid that every time I complained, [his mother] got upset and that was the reason that he came back with bruises,” Gutierrez told the jury.
Smith was originally scheduled to be sentenced in March 2020, but sentencing was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go tohttp://www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
