Man Convicted In Child's Death

{Charleston, West Virginia}...A jury has convicted 25 year old Ethan Chic-Colbert of felony child neglect resulting in death. During a trial Tuesday in Charleston, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Duke Bloom dismissed two felony charges against Chic-Colbert, ruling the prosecution had not met the burden of proof for kidnapping or murder in the death of 11 year old Jahlil Clements. Lynitrah Woodson testified that, in March, she was driving on I-77 in Charleston about midnight when her on-again/off-again boyfriend Chic-Colbert began hitting her, forcing her to pull off the interstate where he dragged her out to the middle lane and was over top of her and beating her while she was in a cradle position. Eleven year old Tyrell Cochran testified that he got out of the car and saw Ethan kicking Lynitrah in the face and punching her while Jahlil, who was attempting to flag down help, got hit by a vehicle. Woodson testified that, by the time Chic-Colbert stopped beating her and ran off, it was already too late to save her son. Chic-Colbert took the stand in his own defense Tuesday afternoon, saying the state's witnesses were not telling the truth, and, during a fight between himself and Woodson, he was trying to get away from her when she tripped him and hit him. Chic-Colbert said that's when he slammed her head to the pavement. He testified he did not see Clements get hit by the vehicle. Chic-Colbert could be sent to prison for more than 30 years.