Father punches man guilty of killing his 3-year-old daughter in Detroit courtroom

A dramatic scene unfolded in a Detroit courtroom Thursday as a father furious with the man convicted of beating to death his 3-year-old daughter jumped over a barrier and punched the defendant in the head.

Video of the brawl was captured by a cameraman with WDIV-TV Local 4, and shows the young girl’s father Dawyne Smith punching the defendant Clifford Daniel Thomas. Smith was in the courtroom to make a victim impact statement before he began yelling then attacking Thomas.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Clifford Daniel Thomas was babysitting the toddler Jamilia Gordon while the child’s mother, Jamine Gordon, was at work in September 2014.

Jamilia was taken to Henry Ford Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival on Sept. 18. Doctors said they saw bruises on her head and chest that were consistent with signs of physical abuse.

On Thursday afternoon, Gordon, 25, was sentenced to 14-25 years in prison for first-degree child abuse and 7-15 years for involuntary manslaughter. Both sentences will be served concurrently.

Thomas, 34, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and received 4.5 to 15 years and one to two years for resisting and obstructing a police officer.

In an emotional statement before a judge Gordon pleaded to have her prison sentence reduced.

“I did the best I could as a mother. I did everything I could to provide for them and keep them safe,” said a sobbing Gordon. “To this day I feel like I am living somebody else’s nightmare.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I did the best I could as a mother. I did everything I could to provide for them and keep them safe," said a sobbing Gordon. "To this day I feel like I am living somebody else's nightmare."

It is unclear if the father will be charged for causing the brawl.