Murder Defendant’s Mother Says He is ‘Lovable’

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 27, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Suspects | Victims |

During a trial for the murder of a 2-year-old, a murder defendant’s mother said her son was never a disciplinary figure towards his girlfriend’s children.

James Embre is charged with felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children and second-degree cruelty to children for his alleged role in the death of two-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad on the 3400 block of A Street, SE on April 17. According to court documents, Embre, 26, was involved in a romantic relationship with Ahmad’s mother.

“Jimmy never exhibited violence from what I know. He’s always been a lovable person,” said Embre’s mother. “He cared for those kids. He wasn’t the authority figure from what I saw.”

The prosecution asked about Embre’s mother’s relationship to the children and about her whereabouts on the night of the murder.

Embre’s mother said she recalled a time when Aceyson’s mom asked her to go to their apartment. She said when she got their she found out that Aceyson’s sister had pushed the baby off a bed.

She said she then had a long talk with the girl about how to treat her brother and why hitting him was inappropriate.

Embre’s mother said she would see the kids and her son at least once a week. She also said she would rarely see Aceyson’s mom.

“She always just stayed in the room, she never really came out or socialized with us,” Embre’s mother said.

Embre’s mother also said that, on the night that Aceyson died, Embre called her and asked her to come to his place. When she arrived Embre, Aceyson’s mother and the baby’s sister had already gone to the hospital.

She said she attempted to talk to Embre at the hospital, but an officer stepped in front of her.  The defendant’s mother said that she went back to find Embre, after learning of Aceyson’s death, and learned that the baby’s sister told police she saw Embre punch Aceyson.

Trial is scheduled to resume on Oct. 2.