Man charged in stepson's beating death

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Buffalo man accused of beating his 10-year-old stepson to death is now officially charged.

In court Tuesday morning, as the prosecution read what Ali Mohamed Mohamud is accused of, he stood expressionless. He's now charged with murder in the second degree for the death of his stepson Adbifatah.

In court, Erie County Assistant District Attorney Tom Finnerty said Mohamud allegedly confessed to the crime to police. Finnerty said according to the medical examiner’s office, there are nearly 70 distinct blows to the boys body.

  >>  The boy's murder left some people wondering if it could have been stopped

  >>  The boy's teacher shared thoughts with News 4 about her former student

They say it appears as though they came from the boy being struck repeatedly by a wooden rolling pin. Mohamud is accused of tying his stepson's hands together with an electrical cord and putting a sock in his mouth while he was beaten.

Finnerty says the medical examiners office pointed out that Abdifatah suffered extensive wounds.

Finnerty said, “The injuries include but are not limited to, multiple fractures of the skull, fracture of the cervical column, broken ribs, contusion to the kidney and hear and additional blood force trauma throughout the enrie body and face of Abdifatah.”

Mohamud's attorney, Kevin Spitler asked the Judge to consider giving Mohamud bail considering his client doesn't have a prior criminal history, but the judge declined. He is expected to be back in court on June 25th.