Jury: New Rochelle Man Caused Son's Death

Richard Leak, 32, was convicted Monday by a jury in the death of his 2-year-old son.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said Leak was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, a class "B" felony.

Around 1 a.m. Jan. 9, 2011, Richard Leak phoned his live-in girlfriend, who was not at their Main Street home at the time, to say Khalil Leak was not breathing. The girlfriend called a neighbor to ask her to check on the child.

Khalil Leak was taken to Sound Shore Medical Center where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The County Medical Examiner determined the cause of Khalil Leak's death to be from a fracture to the back of his skull caused by blunt force. The child's ribs were fractures and there were contusions to his brain.

"Extensive case ad forensic pathology work by both the New Rochelle Police Department and the Westchester County Medical Examiner were instrumental in convicting this defendent," DiFiore said. "The severity of the abuse, along with multiple and conflicting stories as to how the child sustained the fatal injuries, belied the defendant's protestations that the death was just an 'accident.' "

Leak will be sentenced June 12. He faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison.