Sleeping man smothers newborn nephew

MANILA, Philippines - A 28-year-old man was arrested for accidentally smothering his seven-week-old nephew while they were sleeping in their house in Paco, Manila yesterday morning.

The baby’s mother, Jenalyn Jurado, filed a complaint against her cousin, Antonino Jurado, 28, after discovering Akira Morita had died while under his care at around 3 a.m., Senior Police Officer 1 Charles Duran said.

Jenalyn told investigators she left her baby in Antonino’s care and she last saw her baby alive at around 1 a.m., after she bottle-fed him and left him in his cradle in the room where Antonino was sleeping.

She said when she returned to check on Akira, he was not in the cradle but lying near Antonino’s feet. She said she noticed her baby was not breathing so she woke up her cousin and asked him what happened.

They rushed Akira to the Sta. Ana Hospital, but the baby was declared dead on arrival. 

Duran said they discovered signs of lividity on the right side of the baby’s face.

The suspect did not comment on the death, but Duran said Antonino told a friend that he had probably put his weight on the baby while they were sleeping.