Dad Boxed With 3-Year-Old, Mom Says In Murder Trial

By BEN MONTGOMERY bmontgomery@tampatrib.com
Published: Jul 13, 2005

TAMPA - Even though the boy would shake and wet himself, his father, Ronnie Paris Jr., would box with the 3-year-old, slapping him in the head until he cried because he didn't want his son to grow up to be ``a sissy,'' the boy's mother testified Monday.

Others corroborated Nysheerah Paris' testimony as the prosecution built its case during the first day of the capital murder trial of Ronnie Paris Jr., 21, accused of abusing 3-year- old Ronnie Paris until the boy slipped into a coma Jan. 22.

He died six days later with swelling on both sides of his brain.

``He was trying to teach him how to fight,'' said Shanita Powell, Nysheerah Paris' sister. ``He was concerned that the child might be gay.''

Even Sheldon Bostic, who was Ronnie Paris Jr.'s Bible- study friend, said he warned the father several times not to play so rough with his son.

``He really did what other fathers do - slap box,'' Bostic said. ``He always said he didn't want his son growing up to be pushed around.''

``Did Ronnie use a term for that?'' asked Jalal Harb, an assistant state attorney.

``He didn't want him to be a sissy,'' Bostic said.

The prosecution's witnesses portrayed Ronnie Paris Jr. as a man who wanted more of his wife's attention, who complained about not having enough sex since the child was around and who openly questioned whether the boy was his.

Witnesses also testified he lost his temper when the child was ill. The boy was sick often while in his parents' care.

In 2002, the Florida Department of Children & Families placed little Ronnie in protective custody after he had been admitted to the hospital several times for vomiting.

He was returned to his parents Dec. 14, five days after his third birthday. He had been with them six weeks when he died.

The defense tried to shift the blame to Nysheerah Paris, who testified she was so scared someone would take her baby away that she never called police or her caseworker to report what she perceived to be abuse by Ronnie Paris Jr.

It wasn't until Feb. 1, four days after little Ronnie was taken off life support, that Nysheerah Paris told police of the alleged abuse. She is charged with felony child neglect and faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

She testified that she witnessed Ronnie Paris Jr. being rough with the child several times, including once when he ``slammed'' the baby against a wall because the child was vomiting.

But she said she didn't take the baby to the hospital immediately after the incidents.

``I just didn't want my baby to get tooken away from me,'' she said. ``I thought he was going to make it.''

Kenn Littman, an assistant public defender, asked Nysheerah Paris why she never reported the alleged abuse.

``You thought that the cops were gonna put this on you if you didn't say anything?'' Littman asked.

``Yes,'' she said.

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I don't know if this is just really funny or really sad

Put this in the "Only in Florida..." file.

If you dont' know if it is really funny or really sad then you are really sad.

disgusting.

He didn't beat his son because he WAS gay. He beat him so he wouldn't BECOME gay. Get your facts straight.

Wow, that is really fucked up. Hopefully the father will go to jail for a long time, and will learn all about being gay as some big black guy does him from behind on a nightly basis. Sorry, I just hate reading about people who do shit to kids. Pick on someone your own size fucker.

There's a point where you know that there is too much damage being done. I could see trying to toughen your kid up by teaching him to fight and pushing him around a little but when the kid is obviously scared and shaking you have to stop. I see the cat who did this is 21 so he probably deserves some leniency depending on his background. I'd personally love to kick his ass for this.

Oh I guess its really funny then

Nope - shit like this happens in every state.

Maybe I'm totally off base, but I think the father in this case is black.

Yeah, raeding those quotes they are probably black, but it is just scarier to have a big black guy than a big white guy. The white guy would probably just kick his ass.

I would accuse these last few posts of being racist if they weren't so hilarious.

so how does thata prove that they are black? you must be racist MAAAAAAAAAN!

So you're telling me that black guys like to assrape more than white guys? know this from experience?

Eh, a lil bit. After all, racist stereotypes are based on truth.

Something to be said for having to pass a test before procreating.....

...in Florida.

Or something.

Senseless death.
Scentless Apprentice?

.Boggles the Mind.

Sorry. I saw the "Nysheerah" name the first time I read the article, and fuck me if I thought it sounded like she might be black. The "get tooken away" part I only saw on my second pass. I can't believe they printed "get tooken" in the newspaper. Couldn't the reporter have written "get taken" in good faith and say that's how he heard it?

I was just busting chops, forgot the

They could've used "(sic)."

Dont forget Nysheerah's siter....Shanita Powell. Alot of white people are named Shanita.