Dad Beat 7-Month-Old Son to Death Because He “Preferred” Mom: Cops

A Queens man yelled "toughen up'' while fatally punching his crying 7-month-old son in the chest -- a crime motivated by jealousy over the child's perceived preference for his mother, prosecutors say.
       
Larry Greene, 20, was arraigned Wednesday on a second-degree murder charge. He could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

The boy's mother, Cassandra Nady, told the Daily News she asked Greene to look after the boy at her home.

"He said the baby fell when he was feeding him, but it wasn't even close to the truth," she told the News.
  
The baby, named Xiah, died Tuesday night. The medical examiner said he also had bruises on his head and neck.
       
Laquana Greene says her brother is "a good person'' who could not commit such a crime.

District Attorney Richard A. Brown says it's the ninth time in five months that a family member or babysitter has been accused of killing or severely injuring a child in Queens.
       
Brown says there is "no excuse'' for such "senseless attacks.''