Boy Pleas Not Guilty in Infant Death

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (MyFOX Atlanta) - A 12-year-old boy accused in the death of a Cobb County infant has pleaded not guilty. The pre-teen is charged with murder and cruelty to children in the death of a 5-week-old baby cousin.

The boy was led into court with his hands and feet shackled -- denoting the seriousness of the accusations.

The judge explained to him why he was there.

"I'm going to explain these charges to you. I don't want you to answer any thing out loud. I'm not going to ask any questions about that. I'm going to read them to you," said the judge.

According to investigators, the boy was to watch his 5-week-old cousin while his aunt briefly went into a Marietta Target. When the woman return to the car, her daughter, Milan Young, wasn't breathing.

The infant later died at a hospital. Doctors ruled the death was caused by blunt-force trauma. Now, the infant's 12-year-old cousin is facing murder and cruelty to a child charges -- both felonies.

"You did violate the law for what's called murder. That's a felony. Felony means it's a big deal," said the judge.

The court appointed attorney entered a plea of not guilty for all charges on the 12-year-old's behalf. If convicted under a law called "Amy's Law" the accused can be held in juvenile detention until he turns 21.

The 12-year-old's family from Florida was in the courtroom.