A VICIOUS aunt tortured and whipped a little boy to death because he failed a spelling test – even though he was just three years old and too young to understand.
Ethan Ali was beaten to death by Christen Dale, 21, authorities in New York claimed.
Dale admitted striking the boy repeatedly because he was struggling with spelling lessons.
Ali's body was found in a Brooklyn apartment covered with belt buckle marks.
An autopsy showed Ethan had suffered "extensive bruising on his torso, back, buttocks, thighs, arms and scalp".
In court, Michael Gold, defending Dale, said she had been left heartbroken by what had happened.
"There is no question that my client loved and was attentive to the child," he said.
"What we have here is a tragic result of what can only be described as excessive discipline gone bad."
Dale was looking after her nephew as a favour to his mother Natasha Ali, her sister.
A police officer said: "The father is very upset. The mother is catatonic."
Dale could face 25 years in prison if found guilty.
According to authorities on the day of his death Ethan felt sick and stayed at home.
He later become excitable so Dale questioned him about skipping preschool classes.
Authorities claim she then tested him on his spelling before administering a deadly beating.
The case continues.
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