Breaking down in tears, Julius Batties can’t handle the pain of not seeing his 7-year-old daughter Julissia grow up.
“I couldn’t believe my daughter endured all that pain and suffering and nobody did nothing for my baby,” said Batties.
Investigators say Julissia suffered greatly in the hours before her death. She was allegedly beaten to the death at the hands of her mother and teenage half-brother in their Alexander Avenue apartment last summer.
Julissia’s mother Navasia Jones cursed at reporters Wednesday as she was led out of the 40th Precinct stationhouse. She and her son, Paul Fine Jr., were arrested on murder, manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child charges. The son is also facing charges of sexual abuse.
“It’s a revolting, disturbing case of brutality and callousness. Julissia Battie’s death was horrific. And her seven years on earth were a lifetime of pain, abuse, neglect and cruelty,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark
The Chief Medical examiner determined the child died by blunt force trauma to her abdomen, and was hit so hard, she had internal bleeding.
According to police, Jones said she saw her daughter vomit, pass out and hit her head twice in the early hours of Aug. 10, 2021. But she failed to call 911 for at least three hours.
When first responders arrived, Julissia had no pulse and no vital signs. The child was taken to Lincoln Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Battie’s grandmother, Yolanda Davis, said she fought for custody of Julissia, but was forced to return her to her mother’s care in 2020. She says the system failed her granddaughter.
“My granddaughter was a beautiful child that did not deserve what she had gotten. And so for that, I ask God to give me justice for her, and he has done just that,” said Davis.
Both Jones and Fine Jr. were remanded. Jones is she back in court in September, and her son is due back in court in July.