Lethbridge man admits to killing infant, re-enacts throwing boy on floor

A man in Lethbridge, Alta., who killed a nine-month-old has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death for tossing the infant off his bed onto the floor in 2016.

On Monday, when he was to go on trial on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Austin Wright, Tyler Hogan pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of criminal negligence causing death.

A video reenactment was also played in the Lethbridgecourtroom for Court of Queen's Bench Justice John Rooke, who accepted Hogan's guilty plea.The baby's mother, Jasmine Wright, was present for the plea and cried through some of the evidence.

In the reenactment, Hogan, now 42, shows an officer how he got on his knees while on the bed and then tossed the crying baby onto the floor,where there were blankets and a mattress cover.

"I just went like that," Hogan said, gesturing a tossing motion. "I don't know if he hit his head on something his head went back and he went all limp.I wasn't trying to hurt him."

Baby went into extreme medical distress

The baby died of multiple blunt force trauma in April 2016. Hogan was dating Austin's mother and living with them at the time.

By April28, 2016, Austin had been suffering from a cold for several days and had cut two new teeth. He'd been fussy, clingy andthrowing up for several days.

That morning, after Austin'smotherleft for work, the baby began crying around 9:45 a.m.

"In an attempt to calm and play with Austin, Hogan picked up [the baby]under the arms and tossed him on the ground beside the bed where various blankets, pillows and a mattress topper was located on top of a wood floor," according to an agreed statement of facts read aloud by prosecutor Mac Vomberg.

The baby may have hit anopen dresser drawer as he was thrown on the floor, according to the document.

Hogan lied to doctors

Almost immediately, the boywent into extreme medical distress, according to the facts.

"Austin pulled his head back, went limp, and stopped breathing," said Vomberg.

In the video, Hogan describes the baby as gasping for air.

Nearly 15 minutes later, Hogan called his girlfriend, who then called911 when she arrived home.

Paramedics arrived around 10:15 a.m. and rushed the baby to the hospital.

Austin was declared dead at hospital just after 11a.m.

Hogan did not tell his girlfriend, paramedics, hospital staff or police that he'd thrown the baby on the floor.

Sentencing next week

Following an autopsy, according to the agreed statement of facts, it was determined thechildsuffered "severe multiple blunt force traumas, causing extensive brain and spinal injuries."

The medical examiner concluded it could not be proven when the injuries happened or how.

Despite this, when police questioned Hogan months later, they believed the baby's fatal injuriesto have been inflicted during the suspect's time caring for the boy.

Hogan confessed to throwing the boy on the floor and then provided a reenactment.

A sentencing hearing will take place next week. Defence lawyersToniiRoulstonand Andrea Urquhart have not yet indicatedwhat they'll be seeking.

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