Four-Year-Old Murdered

A south New Jersey woman is facing manslaughter charges in the death of a 4-year-old girl at her McGuire Air Force Base home in Burlington County.

April Williams is accused of beating her stepdaughter to death because she would not stop crying. Her husband is a sergeant in the Air Force.

Williams, 23, wept openly in court as judge read her charges. Her husband was not present because he was away on assignment.

Williams said she was attempting to calm the 4-year-old's temper tantrum. When efforts to calm the child failed, she allegedly violently shook, choked and whipped the girl's lower body with a belt. The girl died from swelling of the brain.

The United States alleges there were a series of abusive acts, which escalated against the 4-year-old little girl and eventually resulted in her death.

Williams is in the custody of U.S. Marshals and charged with voluntary manslaughter. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted.

Author: Copyright 2004 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.