Baby brain dead after father allegedly beats him

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. (WSVN) -- A father went before a judge to face accusations that he viciously beat his baby boy.

Yosi Mahlab, 30, appeared in court Friday morning. He stands charged with aggravated child abuse after allegedly striking his 4-month-old in the face inside their home on Northeast 123rd Street. Over the phone, the mother, Claire Chery, said she is well aware that her child might not survive his injuries.

According to North Miami Police, Mahlab is accused of attacking his son on Jan. 21. They are not revealing a motive at this time. However, police said, the father admitted to striking the baby at least twice in the face.

"Right here. It happened here," Mary Chery, the victim's aunt, said, explaining what police say occurred. "He shook the baby and he slapped the baby on the face, and then he put the baby right here," Chery said as she leaned over a nightstand, motioning over it with her hands several times.

Officials said charges against the 30-year-old may be upgraded to murder, as the 4-month-old remains in critical condition and has lost all brain activity. The baby remains on life support at Jackson Memorial Hospital with a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain.

Meanwhile, Mahlab's brother-in-law spoke in bond court, telling the judge Mahlab needs his brain examined. "We love the kid," he said, "and we know what's going on with the kid. We know that the kid is not functioning right now. His brain is damaged, and he needs to get punished, definitely, but he needs to sit with a psychologist, definitely to check his brain."

He said the baby would not stop crying, and that's when he said he became frustrated, and began to beat the child.

Mahlab's bond has been set at $200,000. The mother said Mahlab has been her boyfriend for 18 months and never displayed this sort of behavior before. She is asking everyone to pray for her baby's life.

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