[VIDEO] Hearing for Baby’s Accused Killer Postponed

brandonbeshirescourt

The Benton Harbor man accused of killing eight-month-old Carter Donovan of Hartford last month will have a delay in his court proceedings. Brandon Beshires requested a public defender in a conference with Judge Arthur Cotter this morning, and had the request approved. Beshires had previously told the judge he would hire his own attorney. Cotter noted the defense will need time to review the case, adding the autopsy report is not yet complete. The judge told Beshires he has the right to a preliminary examination within 21 days of the time of his arraignment, but said adjourning it to allow the public defender time to get up to speed on the case would push that past the three-week window. Beshires agreed to the delay, meaning it could be more than a month before he’s back in court. He will remain locked up in the Berrien County Jail. The baby’s mother, 31-year-old Autumn Atchley, is facing a charge of being an accessory after the fact and told Judge Cotter this week she wants to testify against Beshires. Her preliminary examination is set for March 15.

Beshires is accused of severely beating the baby at a restaurant in Coloma, and Donovan was later pronounced dead from severe head trauma at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. Staff at the restaurant have told WSJM News that they heard a baby crying from the bathroom, but the crying stopped as Beshires and Donovan left. They add the suspect returned later, and appeared quite out-of-sorts.