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Newark Child Abuse

Aired January 14, 2003 - 13:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A teenager is in court in the Newark child abuse case. The 16-year-old is a cousin of the three boys who were abandoned in a basement. One of the three died, and the others nearly starved to death.
CNN's Jamie Colby live in Newark now with more from there -- Jamie.

JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra, we're about 20 minutes away right now from a family court judge here in New Jersey deciding if and where that teenager will be held. He is the son of Sherry Murphy, the woman entrusted with the care of three of her cousin's children who were located about a week ago in her basement. One of the boys, 7-year-old Fahim Williams, his body was found in a storage bin. His two brothers were rescued and remain hospitalized. They were malnourished and had previously been abused previously.

Now in this case, Sherry Murphy is behind bars. She remains charged with three counts of child endangerment. Now her teenage son also faces two counts of child endangerment and one count of assault in connection with one of the boys, Fahim Williams, the boy who died. Today a judge will decide if he will be held in a juvenile detention facility. He is 16 and is being held as a juvenile, or if he can be released to a family member, either electronically monitored in that instance or not.

It's unclear whether or not the teen will address the court. He has been appointed a public defender. He is expected to enter a plea of not guilty on those charges. But the judge has the authority to ask him questions, both about the case and about whether or not there are other family members that might be able to take custody. That, of course, is the least likely scenario. Given the severity of this case and the public attention, he is expected to be held.

He also told Newark police, and we have confirmed this, that he struck Fahim during a wrestling match. Police are stopping short of whether that was a fatal blow that killed boy, but apparently, the teenager also told police that he assisted his mother in hiding the body of 7-year-old Fahim Williams. That hearing, again, starting in about 20 minutes from now. We will be there and we will bring you more later -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jamie, meanwhile, the two boys, how are they doing? Has anyone had access to them? How are they feeling? How are they acting?

COLBY: They remain hospitalized in fair condition. One of the boys remained on a liquid diet, because he was unable to tolerate food. He had not eaten in so many days or weeks. They are under care. No one is being allowed to visit them, including family members, because of their medical condition. This according to hospital officials.

But one of the boys, the 4-year-old, has had his father come forward and say he would like custody and would like to take the 4- year-old back to Vermont. He is a half brother of the 7-year-old, Rahim, who's twin was found dead. The question remains whether or not the boys will stay together in foster care, or will be, you know, sent someplace else. This is an issue for the Division of Youth and Family Services under extreme scrutiny right now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Understandably. Jamie Colby, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 14, 2003 - 13:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A teenager is in court in the Newark child abuse case. The 16-year-old is a cousin of the three boys who were abandoned in a basement. One of the three died, and the others nearly starved to death.
CNN's Jamie Colby live in Newark now with more from there -- Jamie.

JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra, we're about 20 minutes away right now from a family court judge here in New Jersey deciding if and where that teenager will be held. He is the son of Sherry Murphy, the woman entrusted with the care of three of her cousin's children who were located about a week ago in her basement. One of the boys, 7-year-old Fahim Williams, his body was found in a storage bin. His two brothers were rescued and remain hospitalized. They were malnourished and had previously been abused previously.

Now in this case, Sherry Murphy is behind bars. She remains charged with three counts of child endangerment. Now her teenage son also faces two counts of child endangerment and one count of assault in connection with one of the boys, Fahim Williams, the boy who died. Today a judge will decide if he will be held in a juvenile detention facility. He is 16 and is being held as a juvenile, or if he can be released to a family member, either electronically monitored in that instance or not.

It's unclear whether or not the teen will address the court. He has been appointed a public defender. He is expected to enter a plea of not guilty on those charges. But the judge has the authority to ask him questions, both about the case and about whether or not there are other family members that might be able to take custody. That, of course, is the least likely scenario. Given the severity of this case and the public attention, he is expected to be held.

He also told Newark police, and we have confirmed this, that he struck Fahim during a wrestling match. Police are stopping short of whether that was a fatal blow that killed boy, but apparently, the teenager also told police that he assisted his mother in hiding the body of 7-year-old Fahim Williams. That hearing, again, starting in about 20 minutes from now. We will be there and we will bring you more later -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jamie, meanwhile, the two boys, how are they doing? Has anyone had access to them? How are they feeling? How are they acting?

COLBY: They remain hospitalized in fair condition. One of the boys remained on a liquid diet, because he was unable to tolerate food. He had not eaten in so many days or weeks. They are under care. No one is being allowed to visit them, including family members, because of their medical condition. This according to hospital officials.

But one of the boys, the 4-year-old, has had his father come forward and say he would like custody and would like to take the 4- year-old back to Vermont. He is a half brother of the 7-year-old, Rahim, who's twin was found dead. The question remains whether or not the boys will stay together in foster care, or will be, you know, sent someplace else. This is an issue for the Division of Youth and Family Services under extreme scrutiny right now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Understandably. Jamie Colby, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com