Sherin Mathews’ father begins life term in Indian girl’s death

indica News Bureau-

The Indian-American father who was sentenced to life in prison in the the killing of his 3-year-old adopted daughter Sherin Mathews in Texas has been transferred to state prison to begin serving  his term, according to published reports.

Wesley Mathews, 39, was taken from the Dallas County Jail on Thursday to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville so he can be assigned to a prison unit, according to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.

A Dallas County jury sentenced Wesley Mathews  last month for the 2017 death of Sherin Mathews, whose body was found in a culvert weeks after he falsely reported her missing.

Wesley Mathews avoided a capital murder trial in June by pleading guilty to injury to a child by omission in Sherin’s death. He told jurors she choked on milk in the family’s garage, and he dumped her body in the culvert near the family’s home, according to news media reports.

Mathews’ lawyers have requested a new trial for their client. In a motion filed last week, they argued prosecutors showed graphic photos to the jury that were prejudicial and prevented Mathews from receiving a fair trial. His lawyers  also argued the state lacked evidence to show Mathews was responsible for broken bones Sherin sustained while she was in his care. Mathews and his wife, Sini Mathews, adopted the child from India in 2016, published reports said.

A hearing on the motion for a new trial is scheduled for Aug. 2, according to court records.

Sherin Mathews’ body was found in the culvert in Richardson, Texas, weeks after he r adoptive father falsely reported her missing. A Dallas County jury sentenced him in June. Wesley Mathews avoided a capital murder trial in June by pleading guilty to injury to a child by omission in the girl’s death.

Wesley Mathews then admitted to the police that the child choked while he was making her drink milk and died in their home. He reportedly told the police that he wrapped the girl’s body in a blanket and placed her inside a culvert near the family’s home.

His wife, Sini Mathews, was also charged with child abandonment but her case was dismissed earlier this year because of  lack of evidence.