The father of a 2-month-old New York boy who was allegedly almost killed by his nanny testified this week that the nanny hung up the phone as he attempted to give her instructions on how to save his life.
Marianne Benjamin-Williams, 46, is facing attempted murder charges for the May 2017 incident that reportedly left the baby unresponsive in his Manhattan home. The boy’s radiologist father, Salomon Blutreich, 37, frantically phoned the nanny multiple times after a family friend called him indicating something happened at his home, according to the New York Daily News.
“I called back and I got through to her and I said, ‘What’s going on?’” Blutreich testified Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The father claimed Benjamin-Williams said she saw “something white” in his son’s throat. He said she became combative as he instructed her to put the infant on his stomach and slap his back.
“I know what the f**k I’m doing!” Benjamin-Williams said before hanging up, according to Blutreich.
Earlier this week, the baby’s mother tearfully testified about the condition her son was in when she and her then-14-month-old daughter reached the hospital. The New York Post reported that doctors removed a large wipe from baby’s throat during emergency surgery.
“There was blood coming out of his mouth. He looked like he was having a really hard time breathing,” Meredith Sondler-Bazar recalled.
“It’s the worst feeling as a mother.”
Weeks earlier, Benjamin-Williams reportedly got into an argument with the couple over her pay. She was reportedly angry that the couple only raised her pay from $17 to $21 despite her being tasked with caring for a second child, according to The Post.
Prosecutors alleged the infant suffered deep wounds inside his mouth in addition to a fractured arm. They also claimed the nanny falsified her references and lied about her education and age to land the job.
Meanwhile, the defense argued the couple’s toddler daughter could’ve shoved the wipe down her infant brother’s throat. They also suggested it’s possible their client scratched the infant’s mouth while checking what was obstructing his breathing.
[Featured image: Baby Maxwell/Facebook]
