When a child dies an untimely death, is there any way whomever is eventually accused in connection with his or her demise can get a fair trial? The death of a child is horrifying to people and that is completely understandable, but what would not be understandable would be if that shock at the child's death led to people prematurely deciding a criminal defendant is guilty before a court has reached its opinion.

That prejudice is something an Atlanta-area man is going to have to face. He has been charged with aggravated battery and child cruelty after his 13-month-old son was found unresponsive by the boy's mother. The boy was taken to an emergency room where he was found to have a fracture skull and brain damage, according to his mother. He was taken off life support a few hours after being admitted.

The 34-year-old man, who is now in Clay County jail, may be charged with further crimes once authorities have finished their investigation into the incident. As far as we know, there is no record of this man abusing his son or any other child in the past.

Now, violence against children is a terrible crime and the perpetrator should be punished. That does not mean, however, that anyone who is identified as a suspect in a violent crime against a child automatically committed that crime, and that is a distinction many people forget. At this point, the father has been accused of hurting his son, but he has been convicted of nothing. We all must reserve our judgment until his trial is complete and the outcome is certain.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "13-month-old dies; father facing charges," Angel K. Brooks, Jan. 30, 2012