Baby slasher sentenced to 12 years

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - A man who admitted stabbing and slashing the throat of a helpless child, learns he is heading to prison for 12 years.

Amherst Police say they had to taser him back in June, to prevent him from killing a six-month-old baby.

It was the first time the department had ever used one of its tasers, and police say they were in the right place at the right time.

"There was some good fortune. It just so happened that three officers responded to this incident on the midnight shift and one of the officers had the taser with him," said Captain David Hoy, Amherst Police Department.

Hernandez had recently begun dating the child's 19-year-old mother.

Detectives say he had beaten and choked her after a nasty argument, and held a knife to the baby's throat when police arrived and tasered him.

Hernandez was initially charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to first and second degree assault.