Convicted of murdering his 5-year-old daughter, a former soldier was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole Friday, according to a Department of Justice press release.
The federal jury also convicted Williams and his wife Delilah Williams, Talia's stepmother, 
of violently abusing Talia over a prolonged period of timeviolent abuse of Talia. From December 2004 until her death in July 2005, Talia was beaten almost daily, according to the release. Naeem Williams testified that the abuse was aimed at disciplining his daughter for bathroom accidents, adding that frustrations with his marriage exacerbated the violence.
Evidence indicated that physical abuse included repeatedly punching Talia, commanding her to eat her own feces, depriving her of food, requiring strenuous exercise, and using duct tape to bind her to a bed post and cover her eyes as she was whipped with a belt. Talia's room had no mattress, blankets, or furniture, which had been were taken away as punishment, according to court documents.
Delilah Williams pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and agreed to testify against her husband. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Her husband was also convicted of obstructing justice and making false statements to Army Criminal Investigation Division on the night of his arrest.
Talia's mother, Tarisha Williams, sued the Army for failing to protect Talia despite substantial evidence of the abuse. Five months before her death, CID was notified by MPs that employees at Schofield Barracks Child Development Center said marks on Talia made them suspect abuse, according to court documents. CID had her examined at Schofield Barracks; a doctor said his opinion was the marks were not from abuse.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay rejected the Army's attempt to have the case thrown out.
He also declined to set a plaintiff request to set a trial date, instead ruling that it should be held after the now-concluded criminal trial.
