Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
WARNING: This story details an infant’s injuries and death.
A Hamilton man who offered to look after his girlfriend’s baby girl to show her that he could “step up” when needed has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2023 death of the 3½-month-old.
Damion Warren-Baker entered the plea before Superior Court Justice Paul Sweeny on Tuesday, according to an audio recording from the courts provided to CBC Hamilton.
Crown lawyer Kelli Frew noted the baby’s mother, family and supporters were in the courtroom at the time.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Frew said Warren-Baker was living with his grandmother on Nov. 5, 2023, when the death happened.
The baby was healthy but “fussy,” and her mother was exhausted, Frew said. Warren-Baker asked to take the girl for two nights to give her mom a rest and to show her that he could “step up.”
He took the girl to his apartment that morning and then posted a video on social media showing himself smoking from a large glass bong, court heard.
The baby’s mother called several times and messaged with Warren-Baker throughout the day, Frew said. Around 3:30 p.m., she asked him to bring her daughter back within an hour.
Multiple requests to call 911
Around 5 p.m., Warren-Baker called his grandmother and told her that while he was feeding the baby, he fell asleep and she fell from the couch, court heard. He said he picked her up and could not wake her.
He also told his grandmother he had not smoked marijuana that day, which Frew said was a lie.
Warren-Baker’s grandmother told him to call 911 and the baby’s mom — but he did not call 911 at that time, court heard.
He instead messaged the baby’s grandmother, telling her the child was non-responsive and barely breathing. He also sent her a photo of the girl, whose head had a “visible deformity,” Frew said. The grandmother did not see his messages until later, court heard.
Then, in a group message with the girl’s mother and family members, Warren-Baker said the baby was having difficulty breathing and needed to go to the hospital. A family member also told him to call 911.
Man shared ‘evolving’ account of events
At 5:46 p.m., Warren-Baker called 911 and told them he was feeding the girl when she bumped her head and began struggling to breathe. He said that happened five to 10 minutes before he called but in reality, it had been 37 minutes since he told his grandmother about the baby falling from the couch, Frew said.
Police arrived five minutes later and took the baby, who an officer described as wet and appearing lifeless. Paramedics took the girl to hospital where doctors later pronounced her dead.
Warren-Baker was initially arrested on a charge of aggravated assault then later rearrested for second-degree murder, court heard.
He gave “evolving” explanations to police about the baby’s injuries, Frew said, offering different stories to police and the girl’s mother about how the baby hit her head, how many times she hit her head and what he did after.
Man’s lawyer said he doesn’t remember saying he struck baby
When police rearrested him in 2025, Warren-Baker admitted to taking “a little hit from his bong to take the edge off” when the child was sleeping in the morning, court heard.
Frew said his story changed again in September when Warren-Baker violated a parole order by calling the baby’s mom. He told her had not taken his medication that day, the girl would not stop crying and he punched her.
Defence lawyer Kim Edward said Warren-Baker has no memory of telling the girl’s mother that he hit the child.
An autopsy found the girl died from blunt head trauma caused by multiple impacts, Frew said. She had several injuries including scrapes and bruises, and two skull fractures.
Sadly, only Mr. Warren-Baker knows what he did.– Kelli Frew, Crown attorney
All injuries were caused by Warren-Baker, Frew said, and they cannot be explained by any version of events he provided.
“Sadly, only Mr. Warren-Baker knows what he did” to cause such “devastating” injuries, Frew said, adding he owed the girl a duty of care and “clearly failed,” in that, recklessly disregarding the girl’s safety.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.
