Trial for teenager accused in death of 4-month-old son set to begin

PITTSBURGH — The trial for a teenager accused of suffocating his 4-month-old son began Monday.

Investigators said De-Jon Johnson, 18, is accused of suffocating Isaiah Brooks-Leonard while the baby  was with him at his McKeesport home for the weekend in February 2017.

According to court paperwork, the baby was found unresponsive in Johnson’s bedroom and had bruises on his cheek, nose, inside his mouth and his lip was badly cut.

The trial was set to be a jury trial, but at the last minute Johnson's attorney and the prosecutors agreed on a bench trial, meaning Judge Anthony Mariani will make the decision.

The prosecution began it's case by calling police detectives to the stand to describe the baby's injuries.

Johnson's mother is expected to take the stand later this week.

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