Posted on: Thursday, October 16, 2003

Salt Lake man indicted in baby's death

Advertiser Staff

A 33-year-old Salt Lake man has been indicted by an O'ahu grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 7-week-old son on Thursday.

Circuit Judge Dan Kochi set bail at $100,000 for Derrick Smith.

The indictment returned on Tuesday accuses Smith of intentionally killing Kelbey Bridenstine. City Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Vickie Kapp told Kochi that the infant died of "abusive head trauma" that he suffered "while alone in the defendant's care."

Kapp said the medical examiner assigned to the case had "ruled out accidental trauma" in the case.

Smith told investigators that he was carrying Kelbey when the child slipped from his arms and hit his face on the tile floor, according to court documents.