Minnesota man pleads guilty, sentenced to 24-plus years in newborn’s murder

Herkal was charged initially with felony assault and malicious punishment of a child, but three additional charges of murder were filed after authorities received the autopsy report, KARE11 reported.

According to WCCO, Herkal initially told authorities his toddler pulled the newborn off the couch twice but later claimed the baby slipped from his hands and fell onto a coffee table during a diaper change.

During his plea hearing, however, Herkal admitted he also shook the infant violently and slapped him, the TV station reported.