By Liz McBreen
Last week, the child, Anthony Novello, was shaken to the point of brain injury in a basement apartment. Police have charged Anthony DiBella, 16, of Brooklyn with the attack. According to police, Novello had been left in DiBella's care as his mother went to work last Monday.
Homicide detectives say that DiBella shook the baby up to five times because he wouldn't stop crying. The shaking caused the baby's brain and left eye to begin bleeding, and it is likely the injuries will alter the child's development.
While DiBella has not confessed to the crime, police have noted his cooperation with the case after initially blaming the injuries on a recent traffic accident. "DiBella has made certain submissions about what had happened," said Lieutenant Commanding Officer of the Fifth Precinct Homicide Squad Dennis Farrell.
After talking with police, he was arrested on Tuesday at Schneider Children's hospital in New Hyde Park, where the baby is being treated for his injuries. Anthony remains in critical condition and, according to a hospital spokesperson, is now paralyzed and blind in one eye
DiBella, who dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, met the baby's mother, Tracilyn Novello, 22, four months ago. Police say he claimed to be 21-years-old. The couple moved in together three months later.
Novello normally left her son with her parents when she went to work. Police say she asked the currently unemployed DiBella to watch Anthony on Monday.
According to police reports, the baby began to cry and DiBella could not console him. He shook the baby several times in an attempt to quiet him down and then laid him down with a bottle.
Police say about two hours later, he was banging on the wall for help. The baby was limp and gasping for air. The landlord's girlfriend responded to the commotion, and called 911.
Once at the hospital, DiBella was questioned by police. He initially gave police conflicting reports, first blaming the child's condition on a minor car accident Novello had been in several weeks before. Doctors and police said that injuries the baby had suffered did not coincide with this story. Some time later, DiBella finally explained to authorities what had actually happened, and he expressed remorse for what he had done.
DiBella is currently being charged as an adult with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. According to Farrell, "These are the only charges against him at this time. The child is still in critical condition, and the charges may change depending on how the child is, and on DiBella's actions. At some point, it is possible that the case will go to a grand jury."
If convicted of the charges currently against him, DiBella faces one to three years in prison. Police have left the case open and may add to the charges against DiBella.
