1st degree murder charge ok’d for Philly father accused of starving son

A Philadelphia judge declined to dismiss a first-degree murder charge against a man accused of starving and beating his 6-year-old son, even though prosecutors say it was the boy’s mother that struck the fatal blow.
Defense attorneys argued that Floyd Wimes wasn’t the primary caretaker of Khalil Wimes and shouldn’t be charged with first-degree murder in his death. But a judge agreed Tuesday with prosecutors who said Wimes starved the boy and failed to report abuse, making the charge appropriate.

Investigators say Floyd Wimes and Tina Cuffie routinely abused their son, whipping him with belts and extension cords and depriving him of food. He weighed only 29 pounds when he died.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports city social services officials vowed to discipline staffers who dealt with the family’s case.