"World's Greatest Dad" Mug Defense in Nixzmary Trial

The Nixzmary Brown murder trial took an interesting turn yesterday when the defense lawyer for Cesar Rodriguez entered a photograph of a mug into evidence. Rodriguez is on trial for second-degree murder of his 7-year-old stepdaughter Nixzmary Brown. Though Rodriguez has admitted to beating her the night she died, lawyer Jeffrey Schwartz has been trying to argue that Brown's death was directly caused by her mother and not Rodriguez.

Schwartz questioned a detective about a mug reading "World's Greatest Dad" found in the apartment; the detective said he found the mug "pretty weird." Schwartz later told reporters, "I believe Nixzmary bought it for him for Father's Day...I think the mother went with her to get a Father's Day gift... Nixzmary and he had a close relationship. He was a good father. He was a strict disciplinarian."

Prosecutor Ama Dwimoh had entered into evidence a belt Rodriguez used to beat Brown (the girl had also been tied to a chair, starved, made to use a litter box as a toilet and much more during her short life). She wasn't impressed with Schwartz's claim, "As evidence comes out, it becomes clear that the last thing he was was ‘World’s Greatest Dad.’"

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 23, 2008 4:51 PM

Comments [rss]

JRod5417

Schwartz's duty as an attorney is to zealously represent his client. As awful as it may sound, his defense that the mother caused the death is valid. Besides, how else do you defend a crime such as this?

eyekantspel

If the mug don't fit, you must acquit

Lrigtab

"I think the mother went with her to get a Father's Day gift."

Wow, where did a 7 year old child get the money to buy that mug?! Please! We all know the mother bought the mug and forced the gift on the child. She probably promised the child that if she gave her dad this mug he wouldn't beat her. Hope both parents rot in hell!

smitty

He has a World's Greatest Dad mug? Then I believe him.

Bouncing Soul

There's plenty of deadbeats with the 'World's Greatest Dad' mugs just as there are plenty of of ugly chicks wearing shirts that say 'Hottie' on them.

I just think at this point the lawyer is totally deluded or so shamed that he is trying to justify his client's actions to himself.

zonny b

"World's Greatest Dad"?? How could the judging of this title be so scandalously lax?

Lilitu

I'm beginning to think this lawyer is deliberately sabotaging the defense.

ed_Extinct

a mug is their defense?

that's it. show's over!

bluemonday

hahahaha. hahaha. really?

i think i have a "world's greatest grandmother" lying around. even though i'm 20 and have no children.

silly lawyers.

Dave Hogarty

If it's on a mug it must be true. Don't blame the lawyer for trying his best; that's his sworn duty. If there could be a single laughable detail about a little girl who was beaten and starved to death, however, I think we just found it.

S.D.

"Though Rodriguez has admitted to beating her the night she died, lawyer Jeffrey Schwartz has been trying to argue that Brown's death was directly caused by her mother and not Rodriguez."

...

...

Wow.

Rodriguez admits to beating her and the Lawyer says it's directly caused by her mother and not Rodriguez?

IMO, That lawyer is sick.

djwerdna

Izzy Mandelbaum: How 'bout that, huh? The World's Greatest Dad. My son made it for me.

Jerry Seinfeld: That's very nice.

Izzy: The best in the world. (pointing to himself) Which means I'm better than just number one.

Jerry: Well, I don't know how official any of these rankings really are.