BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2014— A Lowell man was sentenced to prison today after he admitted that he shook his son, 9-week-old William Berry, to death last year, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

CHRISTOPHER BERRY (D.O.B. 5/14/90) today pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with his son’s 2013 death in Lowell last year.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Gloriann Moroney, chief of Conley’s Child Protection Unit, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Marita Hopkins sentenced Berry to 12 to 16 years in prison.

Though William Berry’s death occurred in Lowell, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan referred the case to Suffolk County prosecutors to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest because she was related to a potential witness in the case.

Had the case proceeded to trial, Moroney would have presented evidence and testimony to show that Lowell Police responded to Berry’s Mammoth Road home for a report of a child in distress and discovered William Berry with blood coming from his mouth and labored breathing.  Christopher Berry, who had been alone with the infant, told first responders that he found his son limp and unresponsive when he attempted to wake him.

William Berry was transported to Lowell General Hospital and transferred to Tufts Floating Hospital for Children due to the severity of the brain injury he had suffered.  His injuries included fresh brain bleeds, retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and swelling to the brain – all indicative of non-accidental abusive head trauma, prosecutors said.  He died May 17, 2013 as a result of his injuries and his death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Christopher Berry made statements to police on the day his son was initially hospitalized indicating first that the infant had fallen off a couch nine days earlier, then that he had accidentally dropped the child on his head that day.  Berry went on to admit to investigators that he was “stressed out” because child would not stop crying; he stated that he shook William Berry for 30 seconds before the child went limp, prosecutors said.

Parents and caregivers who find themselves frustrated with a crying baby can call the Parental Stress Line for free, anonymous phone support 24 hours a day at 1-800-632-8188. They can also find additional tips at http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/com-health/violence/all-babies-cry.pdf.

Christina Berardino is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Berry was represented by Matthew Kamholz.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.