Syracuse NY – Lawyers for the mother of 5-year-old Nefertiti “Neffy” Harris said Wednesday that she wants to accept responsibility for the child’s death, but says she did not intend to kill the child, so she cannot plead guilty to murder.
Neffy was beaten to death by her mother, Latasha Mott, with a belt on Jan. 6, 2024, while she was in the shower at 127 West Beard Ave., prosecutors said. The girl’s body was moved to a wooded area and buried in a shallow grave.
Judge Matthew Doran offered Mott a sentence of 23 years to life if he pleads guilty to all charges he faces, including second-degree murder and concealing a human corpse. Mott did not accept the offer Wednesday.
It comes just months after Mott’s lawyer, Don Kelly, told the court they plan to argue in court that Mott’s ex-boyfriend caused the girl’s death. Her lawyers reversed that argument on Wednesday, saying that while she caused the child’s death, she did not intend to kill the child.
Her attorneys said she wants to plead guilty, but feel her behavior was more consistent with a manslaughter charge. They argued that they faced an ethical dilemma, that they did not want their client to admit to something she did not do. Prosecutors have made no plea offer in Mott’s case, and Doran cannot reduce the charge to manslaughter.
As the revelations unfolded in open court, Doran interrupted the appearance and asked Mott and her attorneys to discuss further negotiations and return to court Thursday to resolve the matter.
Mott is due in court on January 20.
On Wednesday, Corrice Parks, Mott’s ex-boyfriend, admitted to helping hide Neffy’s body after her mother allegedly beat her to death.
Parks was not charged with killing Neffy. He was charged with concealing a human corpse and hindering prosecution in the first degree.
On Wednesday, Parks admitted to helping bury the child’s body and helping Mott avoid prosecution for the alleged murder.
Parks also previously pleaded guilty to an unrelated weapons charge and was promised a prison term of 10 to 14 years. Judge Matthew Doran offered Parks a 14-year sentence for all his charges if he pleads guilty on Wednesday.
Parks openly fought the decision in court. He said he wanted to accept responsibility for obstructing the prosecution, but said hiding the body was not who he was as a person.
Doran explained that he did not have the authority to refuse to suppress the cadaver charges without the consent of prosecutors. Prosecutor Rob Moran made it clear he would not withdraw the charges.
Parks is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4.
Leave a Reply