The Bronx mother who brutally beat her 7-year-old daughter to death disrupts court proceedings
Navasia Jones, the mother who caused the tragic death of her daughter Julissia Batties, threw a tantrum in court on Monday, refusing to listen to the grieving father and grandmother of the young girl.
This was the second time Jones had disrupted her sentencing, which was agreed upon to be 15 years in prison for the 2021 death of Julissia.
“I really don’t wish to hear what they have to say,” Jones, 35, screamed at Julius Batties, her ex-partner and the father of the deceased girl. “What you say doesn’t matter to me.”
Jones had previously refused to enter the courtroom during the first attempt to complete her sentencing, after pleading guilty to manslaughter for beating her daughter to death in their Bronx apartment.
“I took responsibility for the sake of my son being released,” Jones shouted as she was being removed from the courtroom on Monday.
Her refusal to hear the victim’s family deliver impact statements led to a confrontation with Julius Batties, who shouted back at her, “I don’t care what you got to say.” This prompted Jones to question if there was proof that she had murdered her daughter.
Ultimately, Jones clashed with the judge, expressing her disinterest in hearing the family’s statements. The judge, however, allowed Julius Batties and his mother to speak.
The judge rescheduled the hearing for June 23, considering whether to increase Jones’ sentence to up to 25 years, the maximum for first-degree manslaughter.
The tragic case shocked the city, revealing failures in the city’s Administration of Children’s Services, which had previously investigated the family and returned Julissia to Jones’ custody despite a history of violence and abuse in the home.
Davis, Julissia’s grandmother, expressed her sorrow and questioned the sentencing, stating that Jones deserved more than 15 years for taking the life of an innocent child.
Despite the family’s emotional statements, Jones remained unapologetic, showing no sympathy towards them and accusing her ex-partner of abuse.
Her lawyer acknowledged that Jones’ statements in court may impact her sentencing, potentially leading to a longer prison term.
